title: [Mechanism of apoptosis induced by specific COX-2 inhibitor SC236 in gastric cancer cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the underlying mechanism of apoptosis-inducing effect of a specific COX-2 inhibitor SC236 in gastric cancer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Western blot analysis was used to measure apoptosis-related proteins, cytochrome c, and caspase-3. The catalytic activity of the caspases was measured using a colorimetric assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of AGS gastric cancer cells with SC236 caused a significant elevation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bak, release of cytochrome c to the cytosol, and activation of caspase-3. A specific caspase-3 inhibitor, z-DEVD-fmk, blocked SC236-induced apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SC236 inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells at least partly through the up-regulation of Bak, stimulation of cytochrome c release, and activation of caspase-3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200540, China. xiaomingfan57@sina.com
authors.forename: Xiao-ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Fa-shou
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Hong-yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuan-hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: B C Y
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
chemical_list: D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D045304:Cytochromes c; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; C119130:4-(5-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides; C110772:benzoylcarbonyl-aspartyl-glutamyl-valyl-aspartyl-fluoromethyl ketone; C505407:CASP3 protein, human