Progression of colon cancer is associated with the up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and hydroxymethyl glutaryl CoA reductase (HMG-R). Clinical and preclinical evidence shows that a combination of COX-2 and HMG-R inhibitors provide additive/synergistic chemopreventive effects against colorectal cancer. However, the mechanism by which statins and NSAIDs inhibit cancer growth is not yet fully understood. We aimed to identify critical molecules and signal pathways modulated by a combination of lovastatin and celecoxib in the human HCT-116 colon cancer cell line. HCT-116 cells were exposed to 50 µM celecoxib, 25 µM lovastatin or a combination of both to assess their effect in modulating caveolin-1 expression and its down-stream signaling pathways. Our results suggest that a combination of lovastatin and/or celecoxib suppressed caveolin-1 expression and membrane localization profoundly when compared to either agent alone. Lovastatin and/or celecoxib also inhibited caveolin-1-dependent cell survival signals mediated through Akt activation as well as its down-stream effectors such as phosphorylated ERK and STAT3 in HCT-116 cells. Treatment with lovastatin or celecoxib decreased the levels of cyclin D1, CDK2, pRb and E2F1, while the combination treatment showed more pronounced suppression. In addition, lovastatin and celecoxib also decreased the amount of cholesterol rich cytoplasmic lipid bodies (storehouses of esteridied arachidonates) by 80%, while the combination showed a complete inhibition. Overall, our data suggest that a combination of COX-2 and HMG-R inhibitors synergistically inhibits caveolin-1 and its associated signaling pathways.

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