Celecoxib inhibits insulin-like growth factor 1 induced growth and invasion in non-small cell lung cancer

Despite a large number of studies indicating that celecoxib plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of tumors, the detailed molecular mechanisms are not well understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of celecoxib on insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)-induced growth and invasion in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). For these experiments, IGF-1-induced cell growth and invasion were analyzed in A549 cells in the presence and absence of celecoxib. The effects of celecoxib on the expression of phosphorylated type-1 IGF receptor (IGF-1R) and phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) were examined using western blot analysis. The influence of celecoxib on IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) expression was analyzed using ELISA. Celecoxib inhibited IGF-1-stimulated growth and invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Celecoxib also reduced the expression of IGF-1R, IGFBP-3 and phosphorylation of AKT. The results suggest that modulating the IGF axis may be a new mechanism for the anticancer effect of celecoxib on NSCLC.