Meloxicam inhibits the growth of non-small cell lung cancer.

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 has been reported to play an important role in carcinogenesis. Meloxicam (preferential COX-2 inhibitor) inhibits the growth of COX-2 positive and COX-1 negative colorectal cancer cells. We evaluated the effects of meloxicam on the growth of lung cancer cells. By reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, COX-2 but not COX-1 was expressed in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines (A549 and PC14). In human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell line (H841), both COX-1 and COX-2 were not detected. MTT assay and prostaglandin (PG) E2 enzyme immunoassay showed that meloxicam inhibited the growth and PGE2 production of both A549 and PC14, but not H841 cells. These findings suggest that COX-2 may play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of NSCLC, and that meloxicam may be a useful therapeutic agents in the treatment of NSCLC.