Celecoxib can induce cell death independently of cyclooxygenase-2, p53, Mdm2, c-Abl and reactive oxygen species

Anticancer Drugs. 2006 Jul;17(6):609-19. doi: 10.1097/01.cad.0000215055.40072.42.

Abstract

Cell lines that do not overexpress functional cyclooxygenase-2 are resistant to the normal plasma levels of celecoxib achieved following oral ingestion. Cell growth inhibition was demonstrated after 24 h exposure to 80 micromol/l celecoxib while significant death was not detected at concentrations below 120 micromol/l following 24 h exposure. This growth inhibition and death induction was identified to be independent of p53 and Hdm2 in these cells, despite wild-type p53 stabilization and Hdm2 diminution in some lines. Cell death induced by celecoxib was preceded by the generation of reactive oxygen species within 4 h of drug exposure. The precise mechanism of elicitation of reactive oxygen species in these cells remains to be elucidated, although it was found to be independent of p53 and c-Abl, while in vitro, celecoxib enhanced superoxide radical production by xanthine oxidase. Importantly, the failure of anti-oxidants to protect from death indicates that celecoxib induces death independently of reactive oxygen species and that reactive oxygen species generation may be an insufficient trigger of death in p53-deficient cells.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Celecoxib
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / physiology*
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology
  • Embryo, Mammalian / drug effects
  • Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / physiology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / physiology*
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / physiology*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Sulfonamides
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl
  • Celecoxib