Study on inhibition effects of meloxicam on growth of hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of selective COX-2 inhibitor meloxicam on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: The effects of meloxicam on the proliferation and the apoptosis of HepG2 cells were measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA, Annexin Ⅴ labeled assay and the TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labling in situ assay (TUNEL). HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line was implanted orthotopically in the liver of nude mice. Meloxicam was administered for eight weeks in order to observe its influence on the growth of liver cancer. Immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expression of proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in liver cancer cells and tissues. RESULTS: 3H-TdR incorporation into HepG2 cells was significantly decreased through octreotide showing a concentration dependence. Meloxicam also induced the HepG2 cells apoptosis. The rates of the early and the late stage of apoptosis were (21.7±2.4)% and (31.7±3.1)%, respectively. At necropsy, meloxicam inhibited significantly the growth of orthotopical liver cancer, and the inhibition rate for tumors was 55.1 %. The expression levels of PCNA in HepG2 cells and the tissue of transplant tumors reduced apparently by meloxicam. CONCLUSION: Meloxicam is effective in inhibiting the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo and in vitro.