title: [Effects of rofecoxib on angiogenesis of pancreatic cancer xenograft in nude mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in invasive tumor growth. Overexpressed cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2) may be related to increased angiogenesis in the rapidly progressed tumor. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of the highly selective COX-2 inhibitor,rofecoxib on the growth of pancreatic cancer xenografts in nude mice in vivo as well as on tumor-associated angiogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  BXPC-3 human pancreatic cancer cells overexpressing COX-2 was inoculated subcutaneously into nude mice. Rofecoxib (30 mg/kg) was administered orally to animals every day for eight weeks. The microvessel density was immunostained with factor VIII antibody. The expression of VEGF on BXPC-3 pancreatic cancer cell line was measured by immunocytochemistry in vitro. Gelatin zymography and RT-PCR technology were used to determine MMP-2 progelatinase and expression of MMP-2 mRNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rofecoxib significantly reduced the tumor volume with an inhibition rate of 87.7% as well as tumor weight with an inhibition rate of 73.64% for xenografts in nude mice. The density of microvessel was notably lower in xenografts treated with rofecoxib than in those without treatment (1.5+/-0.2 vs 4.7+/-1.5/200x; P< 0.05). Expression of VEGF protein, MMP-2 progelatinase and MMP-2 mRNA levels in the xenografts treated with rofecoxib were lower than those of control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antiangiogenesis is one of the mechanisms by which Rofecoxib suppresses pancreatic cancer proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing, 400016, PR China.
authors.forename: Xu-Chun
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Cheng-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Chun-Lun
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chun-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013450:Sulfones; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007783:Lactones; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D013450:Sulfones; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C116926:rofecoxib; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2