Susceptibility for NSAIDs-induced apoptosis correlates to p53 gene status in gastric cancer cells.

The anti-tumor effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remains unclear. Here, we found that the susceptibility for NSAIDs-induced apoptosis might correlate with the status of the p53 gene in gastric cancer cells. Apoptosis in gastric cancer cells expressing wild-type p53 is induced through up-regulation of bax and down-regulation of bcl-2 and that regulation of the bax-bcl-2 heterodimer may be a major target of NSAIDs. As to gastric cancer cells expressing mutant-type p53, other key factors may exist in the NSAIDs' growth inhibition action.