Selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors show a differential ability to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of colon adenocarcinoma cells

FEBS Lett. 2002 Nov 6;531(2):278-84. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(02)03535-4.

Abstract

Although the influence of selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors on the proliferation of colon adenocarcinoma cells have been the subject of much investigation, relatively little research has compared the effects of different COX-2 inhibitors. Celecoxib strongly suppressed the proliferation of COX-2 expressing HT-29 cells at 10-40 microM. NS-398 and nimesulide also inhibited cell proliferation, whereas rofecoxib, meloxicam, and etodolac did not. Only celecoxib induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells, as detected on the basis of DNA fragmentation, TUNEL positivity, and caspase-3/7 activation. DNA fragmentation was also increasd in COX-2 non-expressing cell lines (SW-480 and HCT-116) by exposure to celecoxib for 6-24 h. All six COX-2 inhibitors suppressed the production of prostaglandin E(2) by HT-29 cells, suggesting that the pro-apoptotic effect of celecoxib was unrelated to inhibition of COX-2. Inactivation of Akt might explain the differential pro-apoptotic effect of these selective COX-2 inhibitors on colon adenocarcinoma cells.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis*
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Dinoprostone / biosynthesis
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Isoenzymes
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
  • AKT1 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Caspases
  • Dinoprostone