Growth-inhibition effect of celecoxib on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721

Objective To study the inhibitory effect of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX 2) inhibitor celecoxib on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cell (HCC) line SMMC 7721 in vitro . Methods Growth suppression was evaluated by MTT method. Apoptosis related changes in morphology were observed by fluorescence microscopy (FM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Apoptotic index (AI) was counted by the TDT mediated dUTP biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The apoptotic rate was quantified by flow cytometry (FCM). Results Celecoxib inhibited the growth of HCC cells in a dose dependent manner. The growth inhibitory rates of HCC cells treated with 2, 10, 20, and 40 mmol/L celecoxib were 20.78%, 33.37%, 48 57%, and 64 96%, respectively ( P 0.01). Apoptosis with nuclear chromatin condensation, fragmentation, cell shrinkage, and the formation of apoptotic bodies was found by fluorescent staining and TEM. Apoptotic rates of HCC cells treated with 2, 10, 20, and 40 mmol/L celecoxib were (7.44±0.34)%, (19.59±1.73)%, (29.04±4.18)%, and (42.14±2.40)%, respectively, significantly higher than those of the control group (2.13±0.17)% ( P 0.05). Conclusion Celecoxib can inhibit the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC 7721 as well as induce the cell apoptosis which may be related to the mechanism of inhibition of HCC cells.