Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors induce apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer through cyclooxygenase independent pathways

Celecoxib Can Prevent Tumor Growth and Distant Metastasis in Postoperative Setting

Much evidence suggests that an inflammatory condition provides a microenvironment favorable for tumor growth. One of the main components in the healing wound is the induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandins, and many solid tumors have been known to overexpress COX-2. The present study investigated the relationship between surgical wounds and tumor growth and the roles of COX-2 and inflammatory reaction in this microenvironment. We created surgical wounds in syngeneic mice for the implantation of SCC VII murine cancer cell line. Accelerated tumor growth and increased angiogenesis by surgical wounds were clearly observed in C3H/HeJ mice with SCC VII tumor. The COX-2 expression of peritumoral tissues and leukocyte infiltration partly explained the accelerated tumor growth, especially in the early phase after surgical wounding. Celecoxib had a significantly suppressive effect on tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis in tumor-implanted mice with surgical wounds. This tumor-suppressive action of celecoxib did not show any noticeable side effects on the late wound healing and on the gastrointestinal tracts. Prophylactic use of the drug can be advocated in many clinical situations, such as residual tumors or contamination of surgical fields by tumor cells.

The effects of Nimesulide combined with cisplatin on lung cancer

To study the effects of cyclooxygenase 2 selective inhibitor Nimesulide (NIM) combined with Cisplatin (DDP) on human lung cancer and the possible mechanisms, the proliferation and apoptosis of human lung cancer cell line A549 were evaluated by MTT reduction assay and flow cytometry respectively. The inhibitory effect on neoplasia in vivo was tested on nude mice subcutaneously implanted tumor. Our results showed that NIM and DDP could inhibit A549 cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent pattern; this action was enhanced when NIM (25 micromol/L) was given in combination with DDP and they worked in a synergistic or additive pattern as DDP concentration > or = 1 microg/ml. NIM and DDP could induce A549 cells apoptosis and the action was augmented when used in combination (P<0.01). NIM and DDP could inhibit the growth of subcutaneously implanted tumors on nude mice (P<0.05, P<0.01) and the inhibitory rate of NIM combined with DDP was significantly higher than that of NIM or DDP group (P<0.01, P<0.01). It is concluded that combined use of NIM and DDP has significant synergistic antitumor effects on lung cancer cell line A549 and in animals in vivo. The synergy may be achieved by growth inhibition and apoptosis induction.

Treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer: state of the art and development of new biologic agents

Conventional treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has apparently reached a plateau of effectiveness in improving the survival of NSCLC patients. Although neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies in early stages are under investigation and some progress has been achieved in the management of locally advanced and advanced disease, treatment outcomes for NSCLC are still to be considered dismal. The majority of patients affected from NSCLC experience metastatic disease and optimization of chemotherapy is unlikely to produce further substantial survival improvement, with symptom relief and quality of life still being the primary goal of treatment. Based on this background, clinical investigation of novel treatment strategies is mandatory. As our understanding of tumor cell biology has increased and several molecular targets for NSCLC have been identified, a number of new biologic agents have been developed. Targeted therapy describes treatment strategies that focus on cell signaling and other biologic pathways involved in tumorigenesis. Several targeted agents have been introduced in clinical trials in NSCLC, the majority in advanced disease, and some phase III studies have already produced definitive results. Currently, the minority of these new agents offer promise of improved outcomes and negative results are more common to be reported than positive ones. However, important lessons can be learned from this first generation of clinical trials that should be considered the first step of clinical research in this field.