[Effect of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celebrex on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in pancreatic carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
The previous study has identified that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) may have a close relation with tumor genesis, particularly with digestive tract tumors, and its inhibitor can exert the chemoprevention role on carcinogenesis. This study was designed to investigate the effect of celebrex, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in pancreatic carcinoma of xenografted nude mice induced by pancreatic carcinoma PC-3 cell lines.


METHODS
The effect of celebrex on tumor growth was observed.The expression of VEGF in the tumors was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
Average tumor volume and tumor weight from control mice were 0.438+/-0.052 cm(3) and 0.552+/-0.064 g as compared with 0.215+/-0.038 cm(3) and 0.244+/-0.042 g from treated mice (inhibition rate:51.6%,P< 0.05). VEGF expression was significantly down-regulated in the celebrex-treated tumors. ELISA revealed that the expression levels of VEGF were 1.11+/-0.11(microg/g) in control mice and the 0.66+/-0.11(microg/g) in the treated mice. The inhibition rate of VEGF was 40.6% (P< 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
COX-2 may play an important role in the angiogenesis of pancreatic carcinoma. The selective COX-2 inhibitor, celebrex, can result in the inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor growth.
Xie
Chuan-Gao
CG
Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, PR China. xiechuangaosky@yahoo.com.cn
Wang
Xing-Peng
XP
Dong
Yu-Wei
YW
Cai
Jian-Ting
JT
Qian
Ke-Da
KD
D000818:Animals; D000068579:Celecoxib; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000502:physiology; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D000068579:Celecoxib