title: In-vivo effects and mechanisms of celecoxib-reduced growth of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-expressing versus COX-2-deleted human HCC xenografts in nude mice.
abstract: We previously reported that celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, suppresses growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells through both COX-2 dependence and independence. Recently, we established COX-2-deleted human HCC cells, C2D-HuH7, and C2D-HuH7-bearing nude mice. Using this novel model, we examined the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of celecoxib on in-vivo growth of HCC xenografts in relation to COX-2 expression. After treatment with celecoxib, the mice bearing HuH7 or C2D-HuH7 xenografts were assessed for the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of celecoxib on HCC xenograft growth in relation to COX-2 expression. Celecoxib resulted in an effective and comparable growth reduction of both COX-2-expressing and COX-2-deleted HuH7 xenografts in association with decreased Ki-67 expression. These results demonstrated celecoxib's COX-2-independent in-vivo anti-HCC effects. Celecoxib increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma predominantly in HuH7 xenografts, indicating its COX-2 dependency. Celecoxib reduced p-Rb and DP1/E2F1 complex predominantly via upregulated p21/CDK4 complex in HuH7 xenograft, but p27/CDK4 complex in C2D-HuH7 xenografts. The effects of celecoxib on phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten/PI3K/Akt signaling were COX-2 independent, but its effects on extracellular-regulated kinase signaling seemed COX-2 dependent. In addition, the effects of celecoxib on AC-H3, AC-H4, and histone deacetylase 2 could be both COX-2 dependent and independent. In conclusion, celecoxib suppresses growth of HuH7 xenografts regardless of COX-2 expression, which may be mediated through different signaling.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Shirley X
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Zhen-Ya
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Ke-Qin
authors.initials: KQ
authors.lastname: Hu