Celecoxib's Radiosensitizing Effects on Three Different Human Cancer Cell Lines

Objective To investigate the radiosensitivity enhancement of celecoxib,a selective cyclooxygenase(COX-2) inhibitor,on three human cancer cell lines in vitro(the human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines A549,the human cervical carcinoma cell lines HeLa and the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE).Methods The subtoxic doses of celecoxib were chosen to do the radiosensitive experiment to A549 cells,HeLa cells and CNE cells.The three cells were divided into four groups:(1) the control(C) ;(2) the drug only(D) ;(3) the radiation only(R) ;(4) the radiation and drug(R + D).Celecoxib's radiosensitization on the three kinds of cells was measured by clongenic assay.Results Celecoxib showed radiosensitizing effect on the three kinds of cells.The values of D0,Dq,SF2 and D0.01 of group R + D were significantly decreased in the group R.After A549 cell lines,HeLa cell lines,CNE cell lines were exposed to 30 μmol/L celecoxib,SERD0 and SERDq were 1.26 and 1.34,1.25 and 1.33,1.24 and 1.32;respectively,in the group in which 50 μmol/L celecoxib was used combined with radiation were 1.74 and 1.84,1.36 and 1.47,1.33 and 1.61.Conclusion The subtoxic doses of celecoxib can enhance a concentration-dependent radiosensitivity of A549 cells,HeLa cells and CNE cells in vitro.Celecoxib may be widespread clinical used as a radiosensitizer.