Celecoxib, a selective
cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, has been reported to have antitumor effects. In some
tumor models, the combination of
celecoxib with
chemotherapy agents has shown synergistic antitumor effect; however, the effect of
celecoxib combination with
tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil potassium on the malignant
biological behaviors of
gastric cancer in nude mice is unclear. In this study, female nude mice were subcutaneously transplanted with SGC-7901
gastric cancer cells. When the
tumor model formed, the mice were divided into control group,
celecoxib group,
tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil potassium group, and the combination of both
drug regimens group. Mice were treated for 3 weeks. Following treatment, the proliferating index was calculated, apoptosis related
proteins, COX-2,
vascular endothelial growth factor-C (
VEGF-C) and lymphatic vessel density were quantified in
tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL staining. The results revealed that
celecoxib and
tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil potassium alone significantly inhibited
tumor growth. The combination of these two drugs showed a synergistic antitumor effect. Both
celecoxib and
tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil potassium alone inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis. The combination of these two drugs further enhanced this anticancer effect. Both
celecoxib and the combination treatment inhibited lymphangiogenesis and the expression of COX-2 and
VEGF-C. However,
tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil potassium treatment had no obvious effect on lymphangiogenesis. These results suggested that the combination of
celecoxib and
tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil potassium produced a synergistic antitumor effect, possibly by inhibiting the proliferation of
tumor cells and promoting apoptosis.
Celecoxib and
celecoxib in combination with
tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil potassium possibly by reducing the expression of COX-2, in turn down-regulating the expression of
VEGF-C, resulted in the inhibition of lymphangiogenesis.