Published online May 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i5.936
Revised: December 9, 2002
Accepted: December 25, 2002
Published online: May 15, 2003
AIM: To compare the effect of nimesulide or/and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on tumor growth inhibition and apoptosis in mice with the implanted hepatoma and to observe their possible interactions.
METHODS: The inhibitory effects on tumor growth was evaluated by inhibition rate. Apoptosis was assessed by the ultrastructural, flow cytometry features and the DNA ladder demonstrated by agarose gel electrophoresis. PGE2 level was determined by radioimmunoassay. Expression levels of c-jun, c-fos and p53 were evaluated by western blotting.
RESULTS: Nimesulide or 5-FU alone inhibited the growth of hepatoma, while a synergistic effect was observed for a combined use of both. More pronounced morphologic changes for tumor cell apoptosis and the DNA ladder were found for the latter treatment. Expression levels of c-jun and p53 were found to be elevated for the tumors from mice treated with nimesulide and 5-FU comparing to those with either of them, but a reduced PGE2 level was observed only for the treatment with nimesulide. No change was detected on c-fos expression.
CONCLUSION: Nimesulide and 5-FU appear to have synergistic effects for the growth inhibition and apoptosis induction. Both were found to be overexpressed in p53 and c-jun proteins, rather than that of c-fos, associations with the resulted apoptosis.