The effects of licofelone, a dual lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitor, with and without rosiglitazone in human MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

1537 Background: Clinical and preclinical studies suggest that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors reduce the risk of various cancers, however, their administration is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Agents with 5-LOX/COX inhibition provide a possible approach for improving chemopreventive efficacy without unwanted side effects. COX and LOX inhibition have also been associated with an increase in PPAR γ expression. The present experiments tested the effects of licofelone (L) in breast cancer cell lines and assessed whether dual inhibition of LOX and COX may potentiate the action of rosiglitazone (R). Methods: MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were exposed to sub-toxic concentrations of L and R alone and in combination and analyzed for growth inhibition (MTT method), apoptosis (EB-AO and DAPI methods), cell-cycle analysis (flow cytometry), and protein expression (immunoblot method). Results: L and R inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner in both cell lines. Combination therapy resulted i...