Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of celecoxib on proliferation and apoptosis of the glioma cells. Methods The glioma cell U251 was used and disposed with different densities of celecoxib (0 μmol/L, 10 μmol/L, 20 μmol/L, 40 μmol/L and 80 μmol/L) for 24 h, 48h and 72 h. The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to detect the tumor cell proliferation and flow cytometry was used to detect the tumor cell apoptosis rate. Results The Glioma U251 cells proliferation were significantly decreased with the increase of density of celecoxib in vitro, and there was significant difference in the inhibited rate in different density and different time (P<0.05). The apoptosis rate was higher in the density of 80 μmol/L (17.86%) than in that of 0 μmol/L (11.23%) (P<0.05). Conclusion Celecoxib can inhabit the proliferation of glioma U251 cells, and promote the apoptosis especially with the density of 80 μmol/L.

Key words: glioma, U251 cell, celecoxib, proliferation, apoptosis