Indomethacin decreases arachidonic acid uptake in HCA-7 human colon cancer cells.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer. However, evidence is accumulating that NSAIDs have anti-cancer effects in addition to inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX)-mediated prostanoid biosynthesis. We now show that indomethacin, a popular NSAID, significantly reduced the [3H]-arachidonic acid uptake in HCA-7 human colon cancer cells. Interestingly, no decrease in the uptake of [3H]-arachidonic acid occurred when the cells were treated with aspirin, diclofenac, and sulindac even though the concentrations of these NSAIDs were high enough to inhibit COX-2 activity. These findings suggest that indomethacin has a novel anti-cancer effect that may be independent of COX-2 inhibition.