title: Combination of a COX-2 inhibitor with radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy in the treatment of thoracic cancer.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an enzyme involved in prostaglandin production in pathologic states such as inflammatory processes and cancer. The enzyme is often overexpressed in premalignant lesions and cancer, including cancers of the lung and esophagus. Inhibition of this enzyme with selective COX-2 inhibitors was found to enhance tumor response to radiation in preclinical studies, suggesting that these agents can improve the response of various cancers to radiotherapy. On the basis of these preclinical findings, clinical trials of the combination of celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, with radiotherapy were initiated in patients with lung carcinoma and with chemoradiotherapy in patients with esophageal carcinoma. The rationale for using selective COX-2 inhibitors is discussed, and the current clinical protocols and the initial findings are described.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. zliao@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Zhongxing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Luka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Milas
authors.forename: Ritsuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Komaki
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000068579:Celecoxib; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D013449:Sulfonamides; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D000068579:Celecoxib