Blockade of cholecystokinin-2 receptor and cyclooxygenase-2 synergistically induces cellapoptosis, and inhibits the proliferation of human gastric cancer cells in vitro

Gastrin and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) playimportant roles in the carcinogenesis and progression ofgastric cancer.However,it remains unknown whether the combination of cholecystokinin-2(CCK-2) receptor antagonist plus COX-2 inhibitor exerts synergistic anti-tumor effects on human gastric cancer.Here,we demonstrated that the combination of AG-041R(a CCK-2 receptor antagonist) plus NS-398(a selective COX-2 inhibitor) treatment had synergistic effects on proliferation inhibition,apoptosis induction,down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax expression in MKN-45 cells.These results indicate that simultaneous targeting of CCK-2 receptor and COX-2 may inhibit gastric cancer development more effectively than targeting either molecule alone.(C)2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.All rights reserved.

Blockade of cholecystokinin-2 receptor and cyclooxygenase-2 synergistically induces cell apoptosis,and inhibits the proliferation of human gastric cancer cells in vitro

Gastrin and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) playimportant roles in the carcinogenesis and progression ofgastric cancer.However,it remains unknown whether the combination of cholecystokinin-2(CCK-2) receptor antagonist plus COX-2 inhibitor exerts synergistic anti-tumor effects on human gastric cancer.Here,we demonstrated that the combination of AG-041R(a CCK-2 receptor antagonist) plus NS-398(a selective COX-2 inhibitor) treatment had synergistic effects on proliferation inhibition,apoptosis induction,down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax expression in MKN-45 cells.These results indicate that simultaneous targeting of CCK-2 receptor and COX-2 may inhibit gastric cancer development more effectively than targeting either molecule alone.(C)2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.All rights reserved.