ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of selective COX (cyclooxygenase)-2 inhibitor valdecoxib on the growth of human breast cancer MCF-7/ADR(MCF-7/adriamycin) cells. METHODS: MTT assay was used to observe the effect of drugs on the growth of cells. Flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 dye were used to detect apoptosis of MCF-7/ADR cells. The levels of GSH and GSSG were detected by kit; Laser confocal microscopy was used to detect the levels of ROS. RESULTS: Valdecoxib significantly inhibited the growth of human breast cancer MCF-7/ADR cells and induced apoptosis of the cells. Caspase 3 inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO and caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK antagonized the inhibitory effect of valdecoxib on MCF-7/ADR cell growth. Valdecoxib significantly decreased GSH/GSSG ratio and increased the level of ROS, and antioxidant V-acetylcysteine antagonized the inhibitory effect of valdecoxib on MCF-7/ADR cell growth. CONCLUSION: The apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7/ADR cells induced by valdecoxib is associated with increase of ROS.