Biochemical pharmacology
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Biochemical pharmacology · Jul 2008
The anti-proliferative potency of celecoxib is not a class effect of coxibs.
Celecoxib, a COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2)-selective inhibitor (coxib), is the only NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) that has been approved for adjuvant treatment of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. To investigate if the anti-proliferative effect of celecoxib extends to other coxibs, we compared the anti-proliferative potency of all coxibs currently available (celecoxib, rofecoxib, etoricoxib, valdecoxib, lumiracoxib). Additionally, we used methylcelecoxib (DMC), a close structural analogue of celecoxib lacking COX-2-inhibitory activity. ⋯ Among all coxibs tested, only celecoxib and methylcelecoxib decreased cell survival by induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and reduced the growth of tumor xenografts in nude mice. None of the other coxibs (rofecoxib, etoricoxib, valdecoxib, lumiracoxib) produced anti-proliferative effects, indicating the lack of a class effect and of a role for COX-2. Our data emphasize again the outstanding anti-proliferative activity of celecoxib and its close structural analogue methylcelecoxib in colon carcinoma models in vitro and in vivo.