[Effect of indomethacin on human colorectal cancer cells HCT116 and SW480].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of indomethacin on COX non-expressing colon cancer cells (HCT116 and SW480).


METHODS
We used MTT assay to assess the effect of indomethacin on the growth of the cultured cells. Transplanted tumor models were established with BALB/c nude mice and were treated with indomethacin at 3 mg/(kg x d) for 4 weeks. Tumor volume and mouse weight were recorded every other day. Histologic examination was performed.


RESULTS
After 48-hour incubation with various concentrations of indomethacin, the growth of the two cell lines was significantly suppressed in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 being (318.2 +/- 12.7) micromol/L and (701.4 +/- 29.5) micromol/L, respectively. Indomethacin also effectively retarded the tumor growth within xenografts by 44.6% according to the tumor volume. No obvious toxicity was observed in these nude mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Indomethacin can inhibit the growth of COX-negative human colon cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo, which indirectly suggests that indomethacin exerts its anti-tumor effect at least partly independent of the cyclooxygenase inhibitory profile.
Wang
Hong-Mei
HM
Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Zhang
Gui-Ying
GY
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D007213:Indomethacin