Celecoxib (Celebrex), a COX-2 inhibitor, can induce apoptosis, or "programmed cell death", in various cancer cell lines
through a mechanism that is independent of its COX-2 inhibitor activity but is otherwise uncharacterized. In a new study,
Shi-Yong Sun, Ph.D., of the Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta, and colleagues investigated the mechanism of
celecoxib-induced apoptosis in human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines.
They found that treatment with celecoxib decreased cell survival, activated caspase (mediators of apoptosis) cascades, and
increased DNA fragmentation by a pathway involving death receptor induction and caspase-8 activation. The authors conclude
that celecoxib appears to induce apoptosis in human NSCLC cells through the extrinsic death receptor pathway.
Contact: Vincent Dollard, Communications, Winship Cancer Institute, 404-778-4580, vincent_dollardemoryhealthcare
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