title: Selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor rofecoxib (Vioxx) induces expression of cell cycle arrest genes and slows tumor growth in human pancreatic cancer.
abstract: Recent studies indicate that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is overexpressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and may play a critical role in this rapidly progressing form of cancer. A human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line, Mia PaCa-2, was incubated for 18 hours with 5 micromol/L of rofecoxib (Vioxx), a selective COX-2 inhibitor. Total RNA was isolated and gene expression analyzed by DNA microarray chips. In a separate experiment, athymic mice were orthotopically injected with 7.5 x 10(5) Mia PaCa-2 cells through a minilaparotomy. After 1 month, laparotomy was repeated to measure tumor size, and mice were randomized to receive reformulated rodent chow containing either 12.5 mg/kg/day of rofecoxib or no drug for 21 days. Tumor growth was assessed by comparing volume before and after treatment. In vitro, rofecoxib decreased gene expression of cyclin D1/PRAD1, a key component of cell cycle progression, while increasing expression of several cell cycle arrest genes, including p21/WAF1, p33/ING, GADD34, and GADD45 (P < 0.05). In vivo, tumor growth was significantly reduced in treated vs. control mice (P < 0.05). No systemic toxicity was observed in mice receiving rofecoxib. These data suggest that rofecoxib slows the growth of human pancreatic cancer through changes in gene expression that favor cell cycle arrest.
authors.affiliation: Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deganutti
authors.forename: May N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Romaine E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Saxton
authors.forename: Carson D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000235:genetics; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D011336:Probability; D011897:Random Allocation; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013450:Sulfones; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007783:Lactones; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; D019938:Cyclin D1