Description
Celecoxib is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits COX-2; it exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticancer, and anti-metastatic activities. Celecoxib is clinically used to treat arthritis, acute pain, and ankylosing spondylitis. In hepatoma cells, celecoxib decreases the mitochondrial membrane potential, increases cytochrome c release, activates caspases 3 and 9, alters Bcl-2 and Bax levels, and induces apoptosis. In vitro, celecoxib inhibits release of IL-6, IL-1β, and MIP-1α, suppresses phosphorylation of JNK, and activates SIRT1. Additionally, this compound inhibits invasion and migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by decreasing activity of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP2/9).