Synergistic effect of indomethacin and NGX6 on proliferation and invasion by human colorectal cancer cells through modulation of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway

Mol Cell Biochem. 2009 Oct;330(1-2):71-81. doi: 10.1007/s11010-009-0102-9. Epub 2009 Apr 8.

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate whether indomethacin and NGX6 synergistically inhibit the growth and invasiveness of human colon cancer cells (HT-29 and SW620) and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of their action. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining (AO-EB) and annexin-V-FITC/PI assay. Invasive behaviors of colorectal cancer cells were examined by cell adhesion, migration, and invasion assays. Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) was assessed by the scrape-loading/dye transfer technique. The subcellular localization and expression of beta-catenin protein was examined by immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis, respectively. Indomethacin and NGX6 had a synergistic effect on inhibiting proliferation and invasiveness of colon cancer HT-29 and SW620 cells, restoring GJIC of HT-29 and SW620, and suppressing translocation of beta-catenin from the nucleus and cytoplasm to the plasma membrane. However, they did not have synergistic effects on enhancing apoptosis and suppressing extracellular matrix adhesion of HT-29 and SW620 cells. Indomethacin and NGX6 inhibit the proliferation and invasiveness of HT-29 and SW620 colon cancer cells by attenuating the WNT/ss-catenin signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Communication / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Drug Synergism
  • Gap Junctions / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Indomethacin / pharmacology*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / prevention & control*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Membrane Proteins
  • TMEM8B protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Indomethacin