The Department of Chemistry at the Faculty of Science – University of Mosul, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, discussed the tagged doctoral thesis: “Isolation and Evaluation of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Enzyme and Its Relation to Some Biochemical Variables in Colon Cancer Patients” For the researcher Walaa Farouk Abbas on the Hall of Professor Dr. Youssef Abdullah Shihab. The aim of the study was to assess the biochemical and clinical significance of COX-2 enzyme activity in colorectal cancer patients and its relationship with tumor, inflammatory, oxidative stress indicators, trace elements, nutritional variables and lipid profile, as well as isolate, purify and characterize the enzyme-related efficacy and study the effects of inhibition of a number of COX inhibitors in vitro. The study included 170 participants: 85 patients and 85 healthy, samples were collected before treatment and the diagnosis was based on endoscopy and histological examination. It included four axes: 1-clinical and biochemical evaluation: COX-2 activity, tumor and inflammatory indicators, oxidative stress, trace elements, nutritional indicators, lipid profile. 2. isolation, purification and characterization: using ammonium sulfate precipitation, membrane filtration, ion exchange chromatography and SDS-PAGE characterization. 3-laboratory pharmacological evaluation: a study of the inhibition of 6 inhibitors are: Etoricoxib, Celecoxib, Indomethacin, Nimesulide, Meloxicam, Aspirin, and an IC50 estimate. 4-liposomal nanoformulation: preparation of formulations for Selecoxib and Etoricoxib and their characterization with FESEM with a size of approximately 200 nm. The results showed a significant increase in COX-2 activity in patients with changes in the studied indicators, and a successful partial enzyme purification with the appearance of a protein bundle at 69 kDa. Etoricoxib had the highest inhibitory effect under the study conditions. The discussion Committee was chaired by Prof. Dr. Zikra Ali Fathi Alloush, and the members are: Prof. Dr. waiting Refaat Serhat Samin, Prof. Dr. Zahraa Mohamed Ali Ahmed, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Ismail Mohamed Hassan, Assistant Prof. Dr. Haitham Luqman Shihab said, Assistant Prof. Dr. Mohamed Bahri Hassan Abdel — member and supervisor. On behalf of the dean of the Faculty of science, professor Dr. Hiam Adel Ibrahim, the head of the Department of chemistry, professor Dr. Firas Ahmed dhanon, presented a letter of thanks and appreciation to Professor Dr. waiting Refaat Serhat for her participation in the discussion Committee and her scientific contribution to enriching its facts. Our wishes to the researcher and to all students of studies and faculty teaching full-time success and excellence.

Government information and Communication Division

Tuesday, August 18, 2026