Enhancement of human glioma cells SHG44 radiosensitivity with celecoxib in vitro studies

In order to understand the radiosensitizing effects on human glioma cells SHG44 using celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 selective inhibitor, MTT assay was used to determine the effect of celecoxib on the cell growth, and Colony Formation assay, Reverse transcription-PCR assay were used to investigate the effect of celecoxib or combined with 60Co γ-irradiation on cell colony formation rate and the levels of COX-2 mRNA expression. Experimental results suggested that the cytotoxicity of celecoxib enhanced along with the increment of drug's concentration. The celecoxib could inhibit colony formation in SHG44 cells. When combined with 60Co γ-irradiation, COX-2 mRNA expression levels was lower than that of control, drug and irradiation group respectively. The study confirmed the radiosensitizing effects of this drug to human glioma cells SHG44, and it might be closely related to the COX-2 mRNA expression levels. (authors)