Does celecoxib improve the efficacy of chemotherapy for advanced non‐small cell lung cancer?

Abstract

AIMSClinical trials have reported conflicting results about whether celecoxib plus chemotherapy improves outcomes over chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. METHODSWe performed a meta-analysis comparing the primary and secondary endpoints of treatment with celecoxib plus chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. RESULTSSix eligible trials (1181 patients) were selected from the 206 studies that were identified initially. A significant difference, favouring celecoxib plus chemotherapy over chemotherapy alone, was observed in the overall response rate [odds ratio (OR) 1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08, 1.67; P = 0.009). However, there was no difference in the 1-year survival rate (OR 1.08; 95% CI 0.86, 1.35; P = 0.512), clinical benefit (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.88, 1.25; P = 0.613), complete response (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.39, 1.51; P = 0.446) or partial response (OR 1.22; 95% CI 0.92, 1.63; P = 0.163). Toxicity did not differ significantly with the exception of the occurrence of leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONSCelecoxib plus chemotherapy appeared to improve the overall response rate compared with chemotherapy alone in the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Further prospective randomized controlled trials are now needed.

Drug repurposing in malignant pleural mesothelioma: a breath of fresh air?

“…The efficacy of COX-2 inhibition by celecoxib has been assessed in phase II clinical trials of different tumours with conflicting results [70][71][72]. In a recent meta-analysis [130], we noted an improvement of response rate for advanced NSCLC patients when chemotherapy was associated with celecoxib compared to chemotherapy alone (odds ratio (OR) 1.34, 95% CI 1.08-1.67; p=0.009) without improvement of 1-year survival rate (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.8-1.35; p=0.512). Several phase III trials are ongoing in different cancers.…”

A Computational Method for Unveiling the Target Promiscuity of Pharmacologically Active Compounds

“…In addition to its pharmacological use as an anti‐inflammatory agent, celecoxib has been successfully adopted for cancer therapy . In fact, its activity against various human cancer cell lines (IC 50 ≈6 μ m ) has been attributed to the dual inhibition of both COX‐2 and carbonic anhydrases, while its reported capability to interfere with Akt signalling may account for a COX‐2‐independent mode of action in certain cancer cell lines . Celecoxib has recently been shown to inhibit mitochondrial ATP synthesis (IC 50 =15±6 μ m , rat liver), which might explain the drug‐induced liver injury associated with the coxibs .…”

Dual Targeting Autoimmunity and Cancer: From Biology to Medicine

“…However, it has been demonstrated that careful application of COX‐2 inhibitors in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis achieved up to 50% reduction in colonic tumors . Moreover, COX‐2 inhibitors were revealed to extend progression‐free survival and overall survival of stage III colonic cancer patients, while improving response rates to chemical therapy in patients with advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer …”

“…7 Moreover, COX-2 inhibitors were revealed to extend progression-free survival and overall survival of stage III colonic cancer patients, while improving response rates to chemical therapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. 38,39…”