Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can decrease the risk of colorectal cancer; however, it has not been established if this effect is solely through their ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX). In this study the effects of indomethacin, a potent NSAID and nonselective COX inhibitor, was examined in LS174T human colon cancer cells. These cells were found to express EP2 prostanoid receptors, but not the EP1, EP3 or EP4 subtypes. Pretreatment of LS174T cells with indomethacin produced a complete inhibition of prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) stimulated cyclic AMP (cAMP) formation in a dose dependent manner with an IC50 of 21 mu M. Interestingly, the inhibition of PGE(2)-stimulated cAMP formation by indomethacin was accompanied by a decrease in EP2 mRNA expression and by a decrease in the whole cell specific binding of [H-3]PGE(2). Thus, treatment of LS174T cells with indomethacin causes a down regulation of EP2 prostanoid receptors expression that may be independent of COX inhibition. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.