The Effect of a Selective COX-2 Inhibitor on Cell Growth in Human Colorectal Cancer Cell Line

Objective To study the effect of a selective COX-2 inhibitor Celecoxib on cell proliferation and apoptosis of human coloretal cancer cell line HT-29 to seek an effective and safe drug for colon cancer chemoprevention. Methods Using MTT assay, flow cytometry(FCM), acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining, the effect of celecoxib on the proliferation and apoptosis of HT-29 cells were investigated. Results The growth of HT-29 cells was inhibited by celecoxib in a dose- and time- dependent manners. FCM analysis showed that the treated HT-29 cells had typical Sub-G 1 peak, the apoptotic rate of which was (7 31±2 37)%～(48 3±2 86)%. The cell ratio of G 0/G 1 phase increased, whereas the cell ratio of S and G 2/M phases decreased after treatment, which was in a dose-dependent manner as well. The treated HT-29 cells exhibited some morphological features of apoptosis, including cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation, and the formation of apoptosis bodies, the apoptotic index of which was in a dose- and time- dependent manners. Conclusions Celecoxib inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cell line HT-29, which may be related to blocking the cell cycle progress of HT-29 cells.