The Effects of Nimesulide Combined with Etoposide on Lung Cancer Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis

Objective To investigate the effects of cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor nimesulide (NIM) combined with etoposide (VP-16) on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human lung cancer.Methods Human lung cancer A549 cells were incubated and the studies were done as follows: ①NIM (25μmol/L) combined with VP-16 (2～32μg/mL) coincubated with A549 cells for 48h, the cell proliferation status and proliferation inhibition rate were detected by MTT reduction assay.②The cells were divided into control group, NIM (25μmol/L) group, VP-16 (8μg/mL) group and NIM + VP-16 group. The cells growth activity was observed by growth curve as cells coincubated for 12h, 24h, 48h, and the cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by flow cytometry.Results ①VP-16 could inhibit A549 cells proliferation in a concentration dependent pattern, which was enhanced as combined with NIM. NIM and VP-16 acted in a synergistic or additive pattern. ②NIM and VP-16 could induce A549 cells apoptosis effectively and the antitumor effects were augmented as they combined.Conclusion NIM combined with VP-16 can enhance the effects of growth inhibition and apoptosis induction and they play a synergistic anti-tumor effect in lung cancer cell.