Evaluation of Chemoprevention Effect of Systemic Celecoxib on Induction of Tongue Neoplasms in Rat

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) specific inhibitors were examined for predication or treatment of different tumors and it is indicated that COX-2 specific inhibitors play an important regulatory role in apoptosis of tumoral tissues. Therefore, the present study was designed in order to examine the preventive effects of a COX-2 specific inhibitor called celecoxib on 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO)-induced squamous cell carcinoma on rat. In this experimental study, 30 Sprague Dawley rats (with the age of 3- 3.5 months) were selected and divided into three groups. In order to induce lingual carcinoma, 4NQO powder was prepared 3 times a week for each cage. In this study, celecoxib power was mixed with a basic food (basal diet) in order to examine the systematic effect. Tongue samples were sent to laboratory for immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and histological examination. Based on morphological criteria and the ratio of apoptosis to cell proliferation, the prevalence of tongue precancerous lesions was reduced significantly by celecoxib. Celecoxib systematic has inhibitory effects on the 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO)-induced squamous cell carcinoma of tongue. The effect of celecoxib is probably via suppression of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis.