Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and the majority of deaths in lung cancer are caused by metastasis. Our previous studies demonstrated that Troglitzone (TGZ), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) agonist, combined with Asprin (ASA), a nonselective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, had synergistic anticancer effects through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in lung cancer cells. However, the effect of combination treatment with TGZ and ASA on cancer cell metastasis has not been investigated. Thus, we continued to investigate whether the combination treatment of TGZ and ASA affects lung cancer cells migration, and invasion and to study its underlying mechanism. In wound healing assay and transwell migration assay, cell mobility was markedly suppressed by combined ASA and TGZ compared with individual treatment in A549 cells. Similar results in transewll invasion assay were obtained, the combination treatment notably inhibited cells invasion. We also found that combination treatment of ASA and TGZ suppressed migration and invasion via inhibition of FAK and Axl signaling pathways and the synergistic effect may involve PPARγ, and partially COX-1 and COX-2 dependent. My study may provide new insights into the possible mechanisms underlying the TGZ and ASA combination treatment in cancer cells migration, and may potentially provide a therapeutic strategy for lung cancer treatment.