New NSAIDs-NO hybrid molecules with antiproliferative properties on human prostatic cancer cell lines

A study of the action mechanism of new NO-donating profens on prostatic cancer cell lines is reported. The design of profen hybrids containing a NO donor moiety connected to an aliphatic spacer led to compounds with a similar cyclooxygenase inhibition compared to their parent profen and with significant antiproliferative activities on PC3 cells. However, inhibition of COX-2 pathway alone did not seem sufficient to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, and NO-release in a time-dependent manner strongly contributes to this activity.