The disclosure provides, among other things, a method of decreasing resistance to the chemopreventive properties of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, e.g., celecoxib, particularly in the prevention of cancer, e.g., colon cancer, by increasing the levels or activity of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH). The disclosure also provides a method of identifying compounds that upregulate or reactivate 15-PGDH. The disclosure also provides a method of identifying an individual suitable for treatment with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment or prevention of colon cancer.
