Elevated tumor cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is associated with tumor invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we report that COX-2-dependent pathways contribute to the modulation of E-cadherin expression in NSCLC. First, whereas genetically modified COX-2-sense (COX-2-S) NSCLC cells expressed low E-cadherin and showed diminished capacity for cellular aggregation, genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of tumor COX-2 led to increased E-cadherin expression and resulted in augmented homotypic cellular aggregation among NSCLC cells in vitro. An inverse relationship between COX-2 and E-cadherin was shown in situ by double immunohistochemical staining of human lung adenocarcinoma tissue sections. Second, treatment of NSCLC cells with exogenous prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) significantly decreased the expression of E-cadherin, whereas treatment of COX-2-S cells with celecoxib (1 μmol/L) led to increased E-cadherin expression. Third, the transcriptional suppressors of E-cadherin, ZEB1 and Snail, were up-regulated in COX-2-S cells or PGE₂-treated NSCLC cells but decreased in COX-2-antisense cells. PGE₂ exposure led to enhanced ZEB1 and Snail binding at the chromatin level as determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Small interfering RNA–mediated knockdown of ZEB1 or Snail interrupted the capacity of PGE₂ to down-regulate E-cadherin. Fourth, an inverse relationship between E-cadherin and ZEB1 and a direct relationship between COX-2 and ZEB1 were shown by immunohistochemical staining of human lung adenocarcinoma tissue sections. These findings indicate that PGE₂, in autocrine or paracrine fashion, modulates transcriptional repressors of E-cadherin and thereby regulates COX-2-dependent E-cadherin expression in NSCLC. Thus, blocking PGE₂ production or activity may contribute to both prevention and treatment of NSCLC. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(10): 5338-45)