The effect of celecoxib on growth and apoptosis of human nasopharyngeal cancer CNE-2 cells

Objective To study the effect and its mechanism of celecoxib,a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor,on inhibiting the proliferation and inducing apoptosis in human nasopharyngeal cancer cell line CNE-2.Methods In vitro cultured human nasopharyngeal cancer cell line CNE-2 was treated with celecoxib.The proliferation of celecoxib in nasopharyngeal cancer cells line CNE-2 was examined by MTT assay.Results The apoptosis of nasopharyngeal cancer cells line CNE-2 was tested by PI staining flow cytometry.The expression and changes of Bcl-2,Bax protein in nasopharyngeal cancer cells line CNE-2 were investigated by Western blot.Conclusion Celecoxib can significantly inhibit human nasopharyngeal cancer cells line CNE-2 growth and induce its apoptosis.The effect of apoptosis induced by celecoxib is associated with downregulating expression of Bcl-2 protein and upregulating expression of Bax protein.