Atorvastatin inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of colon cancer cells via COX-2/PGE2/β-Catenin Pathway.

PURPOSE To explore the effects of atorvastatin (ATST) on the proliferation and apoptosis of colon cancer cells through the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)/prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)/β-catenin pathway. METHODS HCT116 cells were cultured and transfected, and they were treated with ATST at different concentrations for different time. The association between the expressions of COX-2 and PGE2 and the survival time of patients with colon cancer was analyzed via Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Then the protein expressions of COX-2, β-catenin and apoptosis-related molecules in HCT116 cells were determined using Western blotting, and the proliferation of HCT116 cells was detected via cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. RESULTS There was a significant difference in the survival rate between HCT116 cells treated with 30 μM ATST and those treated with 0 μM ATST. The survival time was obviously longer in patients with low expressions of COX-2 and PGE2 than that those with high expressions of COX-2 and PGE2. Low expressions of COX-2 and PGE2 in colon cancer tissues indicate a longer survival time. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between HCT116 cell density and COX-2 level, HCT116 cell density and PGE2 level, and COX-2 and PGE2 levels. ATST could down-regulate COX-2 and β-catenin, and knocking down COX-2 could lower β-catenin. After treatment with ATST and ATST + anti-COX-2, the activity of cleaved caspase-9, caspase-3 and PARP was remarkably enhanced, suggesting that ATST and ATST + anti-COX-2 can promote apoptosis of HCT116 cells. It was found that ATST and ATST + anti-COX-2 could also inhibit the proliferation of HCT116 cells.