Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit telomerase activity in head and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines

Background. Anti proliferative effects in neoplastic cells of different origin have been attributed to non-steroidal antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) during the past few decades. Methods. We tested the influence of NSAIDs and hydrocortisone on cell lines derived from head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and on normal oral mucosal keratinocytes. ell numbers were assayed by cell counting, proliferation, telomerase activity with a colorimetric assay, and cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry. Results. In the neoplastic cell lines indomethacin and ibuprofen caused a dose-dependent reduction of cell numbers and telomerase activity without altering cell viability and increased the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase. In normal oral mucosal keratinocytes, only minor effects could be detected in response to NSAIDs and hydrocortisone. Conclusion. These results demonstrate that NSAIDs have activity against HNSCC cells in vitro and may have clinical applications in combination with other therapeutic regimens. ((C)) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.