Objective: To evaluate the effects of selective and non-selective cyclooxygenase-2 on the growth and apoptosis of colon cancer cell lines in vitro.
Methods: The proliferation of colon cancer cells was determined by MTT assay, and the cell cycle progression was analyzed by flow cytometric assay. Annexin V/PI staining in combination with flow cytometric assay was used to detect apoptosis induced by NSAIDs.
Results: It was found that celecoxib, meloxicam and aspirin could inhibit the growth of HT-29 or SW480 cell and showed a concentration dependent pattern. COX-2 protein was expressed in HT-29 and LS174-T, but not in SW480 cells. In addition, PCNA levels in both HT-29 cell and SW480 cells were reduced by aspirin and celecoxib. Both aspirin (10 mmol/ L) and celecoxib (50 micromol/L) induced apoptosis of HT-29 and SW480 colon cancer cells, the apoptosis rates were 4.8%, 17.7% and 5.1%, 20.4% respectively.
Conclusion: Both COX-2 selective and non-selective inhibitors can potentially inhibit the growth of colon cell lines and such inhibitory effect on COX-2 negative colon cancer cells is also evident.