Background Gene therapy by adenovirus-mediated wild-type p53 gene transfer has been shown to inhibit lung cancer growth in vitro,in animal models,and in human clinical trials.The antitumor effect of selective cyclooxygenase(COX)-2 inhibitors has been demonstrated in preclinical studies.However,no information is available on the effects of p53 gene therapy combined with selective COX-2 inhibitor on COX-2 gene expression and growth inhibition of human lung cancer cells.Methods We evaluated the effects of recombinant adenovirus-p53(Ad-p53) gene therapy combined with selective COX-2 inhibitor on the proliferation,apoptosis,cell cycle arrest of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line,and the effects of tumor suppressor exogenous wild type p53 on COX-2 gene expression.ResultsAd-p53 gene therapy combined with selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib shows significant synergistic inhibition effects on the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line. Exogenous p53 gene can suppress COX-2 gene expression.ConclusionsSignificant synergistic inhibition effects of A549 cell line by the combined Ad-p53 and selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib may be achieved by enhancement of growth inhibition,apoptosis induction and suppression of COX-2 gene expression.This study provides first evidence that the administration of p53 gene therapy in combination with COX-2 inhibitors might be a new clinical strategy for the treatment or prevention of NSCLC.
