Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. A promising, novel strategy for cancer treatment is chemoprevention. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have chemopreventive effects on several cancers including those of cervix. There are few clinical trials of the effects of NSAIDs on precancerous cervical lesions but data from in vitro studies are lacking.
Objective: To study growth inhibitory effects of nonselective and selective NSAIDs on immortalized cervical cells in vitro.
Material and Method: Cytotoxicity of ibuprofen and celecoxib on immortalized cervical cells was analyzed by Cell Proliferation (MTT) Assay. Propidium Iodide (PI) Assay was used to analyze apoptotic cell death.
Results: Ibuprofen and celecoxib had significant growth inhibitory effects with IC50 of 3.00 + 0.44 mM and 30.00 + 11.00 μM, respectively. Both drugs significantly induced apoptosis.
Conclusion: Ibuprofen and celecoxib can inhibit growth and induce apoptotic cell death in immortalized cervical cells. Results from the present study highlight the need for further in vivo researches and clinical trials in search of novel strategies for cervical cancer prevention.

Keywords: Precancerous cervical cells, Cervical dysplasia, Immortalized cervical cells, Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, CIN, Squamous intraepithelial lesion, Cervical cancer, NSAIDs, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Ibuprofen, Celecoxib, Chemoprevention, Growth inhibition, Cancer prevention