Radiosensitizing effect of the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib on esophageal carcinoma cell line ECA109

AIM:To investigete the radiosensitizing effect of celecoxib on esophageal carcinoma cell line CEA109.METHODS:The expression of COX-2 in CEA109 cells was detected by immunohistochemical staining.The MTT assay and colony forming assay were performed to determine the influence of celecoxib on growth and proliferation of esophageal carcinoma cell line CEA109.The apoptosis of CEA109 cells was determined by flow cytometry.RESULTS:There were differences in colony forming,cell proliferation,and stage apoptosis among different dose levels of radiation and celecoxib concentrations (all P0.05).And the inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in CEA109 cell line were depend on the dose levels of radiation and celecoxib concentrations.CEA109 cell survival rate was lower after treatment with the combination of radiation and celecoxib than that of radiation alone.The apoptosis rate of combined use of celecoxib(50 μmol/L) and radiation(4Gy) was significant different from the apoptosis rate of simple radiation group(P0.05).CONCLUSION:Celecoxib can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of ECA-109 cell line.Radiation combined with celecoxib has synergistic effect on ECA-109 cell line proliferation and apoptosis.Celecoxib can enhance the sensitivity of ECA-109 cell line to irradiation.