Celecoxib induces apoptosis in COX-2 non-expression gastric cancer cells

AIM: To investigate whether celecoxib induces gastric cancer cell apoptosis in a COX-2 non-expression cell line. METHODS: The COX-2 protein was examined by western blotting. Fluorescence microscopy, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis were used to test apoptosis. RESULTS: COX-2 was expressed in AGS but not MGC-803 gastric cancer cell line; Selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib induced MGC-803 cell line apoptosis in a concentration and time-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Celecoxib induces apoptosis in COX-2 non-expression gastric cancer cells.