Inhibitory Effects of Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitory Drugs on Human Osteosarcoma and Lung Cancer Cell Lines

Objective To compare the effects of two cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors,celecoxib and rofecoxib on the growth of human osteosarcoma (HOS-8603) and lung cancer cell (A-549) lines. Methods The anti-proliferation effects were determined by methabenzthiazuron (MTT) method. The cell growing cycle and the cell apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, celecoxib and rofecoxib had inhibitory and apoptosis-inducting effect on the growth of the two tumor cell lines. The inhibitions of celecoxib and rofecoxib to the two tumor cell lines were dose-dependent and time-dependent. The cells treated with the two drugs showed a G_2/M arrest which was the peak time of apoptosis. There was a significant difference between rofecoxib and celecoxib groups ( P 0.05). And celecoxib had a stronger inhibition to HOS-8603 than rofecoxib. Conclusion Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, celecoxib and rofecoxib have significant effect on the growth of the two tumor cell lines, and may become useful medicines in tumor treatment.