Celecoxib inhibits urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) production in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Elevated urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) expression in breast tumors predicts poor survival. We found celecoxib (25 μM) significantly reduced uPA protein and mRNA in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells following 72 h of treatment. Celecoxib also inhibited cell viability (12.5 and 25 μM) and induced G2M arrest (25 μM). Therefore, celecoxib therapy for uPA positive breast cancer should be explored.