Celecoxib is a highly selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) with IC50 value of 40nM [1].
In vitro, celecoxib not only reduced the production of PGE2 but also inhibited the downstream effects of PGE2. Celecoxib blocked migration and invasion of A549 cells increased by PGE2 in the wound healing and transwell assays. Additionally, celecoxib reduced MMP9 mRNA expression which was increased by PGE2. Moreover, celecoxib enhanced E-cadherin mRNA expression which was inhibited by PGE2 [2].
In vivo, celecoxib inhibited the increase in metastases of A549 cells and significantly reduced the increase in PGE2 plasma level in mice receiving unilateral pneumonectomy [2].
References:
[1] Penning TD1, Talley JJ, Bertenshaw SR, Carter JS, Collins PW, Docter S, Graneto MJ, Lee LF, Malecha JW, Miyashiro JM, Rogers RS, Rogier DJ, Yu SS,AndersonGD, Burton EG, Cogburn JN, Gregory SA, Koboldt CM, Perkins WE, Seibert K, Veenhuizen AW, Zhang YY, Isakson PC. Synthesis and biological evaluation of the 1,5-diarylpyrazole class of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors: identification of 4-[5-(4-methylphenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]benze nesulfonamide (SC-58635, celecoxib). J Med Chem. 1997 Apr 25;40(9):1347-65.
[2] Zhang S1, Da L1, Yang X1, Feng D1, Yin R1, Li M1, Zhang Z1, Jiang F2, Xu L3. Celecoxib potentially inhibits metastasis of lung cancer promoted by surgery in mice, via suppression of the PGE2-modulated β-catenin pathway.
Toxicol Lett. 2014 Mar 3;225(2):201-7.