Celecoxib, a selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor, enhances the response to preoperative paclitaxel and carboplatin in early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Preclinical studies suggest that treatment with a selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor may augment the antitumor effects of chemotherapy. In this study, patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were preoperatively treated with celecoxib in combination with chemotherapy. End points were toxicity, response rates, and measurement of intratumoral levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).


METHODS
In this phase II trial, 29 patients with stages IB to IIIA NSCLC were treated with two preoperative cycles of paclitaxel and carboplatin, as well as daily celecoxib, followed by surgical resection. Levels of PGE2 in the primary tumors and adjacent normal lung tissue were compared in 17 study patients versus 13 controls, who received preoperative paclitaxel/carboplatin without celecoxib.


RESULTS
All patients completed preoperative chemotherapy, and 26 completed preoperative celecoxib. The overall clinical response rate was 65% (48% with partial response; 17% with complete response). Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was observed in 18 patients (62%). Twenty-eight patients were explored and underwent complete resection of their tumors. There were no complete pathologic responses, but seven patients (24%) had minimal residual microscopic disease. The addition of celecoxib to a regimen of paclitaxel and carboplatin abrogated the marked increase in levels of PGE2 detected in primary tumors after treatment with paclitaxel and carboplatin alone.


CONCLUSIONS
In comparison with historically reported response rates, these data suggest that the addition of a selective COX-2 inhibitor may enhance the response to preoperative paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with NSCLC. Moreover, treatment with celecoxib 400 mg twice daily was sufficient to normalize the increase in PGE2 levels found in NSCLC patients after treatment with paclitaxel and carboplatin. Confirmatory trials are planned.
Altorki
N K
NK
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Strang Cancer Prevention Center and Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA. nkaltork@med.cornell.edu.
Keresztes
R S
RS
Port
J L
JL
Libby
D M
DM
Korst
R J
RJ
Flieder
D B
DB
Ferrara
C A
CA
Yankelevitz
D F
DF
Subbaramaiah
K
K
Pasmantier
M W
MW
Dannenberg
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000068579:Celecoxib; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D016190:Carboplatin; D000068579:Celecoxib; D017239:Paclitaxel