title: [Inhibitory effects of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib on growth and angiogenesis of human liver cancer HepG2 cell xenografts in small nude mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is closely correlated to genesis of tumors, particularly digestive tract tumors, and its inhibitor has antitumor effect. This study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib on growth and angiogenesis of human liver cancer HepG2 cell xenografts in small nude mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  HepG2 cells were transplanted into the dorsal subcutaneous tissue of athymic nude mice. The mice were treated with celecoxib 4 days after transplantation, and were killed 58 days later. Tumor volume and weight were measured. The expression of COX-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) were detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and microvessel density (MVD) was observed by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average tumor volume was significantly smaller and the average tumor weight was significantly lighter in celecoxib group than in control group [(709.11+/-108.53) mm3 vs. (1,417.55+/-69.50) mm3, and (2.63+/-0.34) g vs. (5.32+/-0.98) g, P<0.01]. The inhibitory rate of tumor growth was 55.21%. The expression levels of COX-2, VEGF, bFGF and Ang-2, and MVD were significantly lower in celecoxib group than in control group (2.43+/-0.29 vs. 4.50+/-0.25, 2.80+/-0.30 vs. 5.49+/-0.58, 2.23+/-0.41 vs. 4.03+/-0.47, 2.88+/-0.25 vs. 5.53+/-0.54, and 29.27+/-1.52 vs. 128.24+/-9.82, P<0.01, respectively). COX-2 expression was positively correlated to VEGF, bFGF and Ang-2 expression and MVD (r=0.862, r=0.882, r=0.857, r=0.837,P<0.01, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Celecoxib inhibits the growth and angiogenesis of HepG2 cell xenografts in nude mice effectively via suppressing the expression of COX-2.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P. R. China. zuochaohui@vip.sina.com
authors.forename: Chao-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Zu-Rong
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yong-Zhong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: Zheng-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000068579:Celecoxib; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D011720:Pyrazoles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013449:Sulfonamides; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D000068579:Celecoxib