Levels of
cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and its metabolite
prostaglandin E(2) (
PGE(2)) are frequently increased in
colon cancer and other
cancers including
lung cancer. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are considered to have chemo-preventive effects on these diseases by reducing the biosynthesis of
PGE(2) via their inhibition of COX-2. Although the COX-2/
PGE(2) pathway may directly impact on lung
carcinogenesis, some population-based cohort studies of
NSAIDs showed no significant protective effects. In this study, using human
non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells, we examined the effects of
indomethacin, a potent
NSAID, on the growth and motility of
lung cancer cells. Besides inhibiting
PGE(2) production and cellular growth,
indomethacin caused drastic morphological changes with a loss of stress fibers in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, the change in cellular shape caused by
indomethacin was not seen when the cells were treated with
aspirin or
diclofenac, two other
NSAIDs, despite the concentrations used being sufficient to inhibit
PGE(2) production. The
indomethacin-induced morphological changes in A549 cells were accompanied by a reduction in levels of the adhesion molecule
E-cadherin and a component of basal lamina,
collagen IV, as well as an increase in the activity of a
collagenase, matrix metalloprotease-9. Furthermore,
indomethacin-induced shape changes resulted in enhanced motility via regulation of
peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ. The dual effects of
indomethacin, inhibition of cellular growth and enhancement of migration, would explain, to some extent, the difficulty in using this
NSAID for
lung cancer therapy.