The comparison between effect of chemoradiation with weekly cisplatin with or without celecoxib in treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma:  A phase III clinical trial

Mohammadianpanah, Mohamad; Razmjoo Ghalaee, Sasan; Khademi, Bijan; Shafizadeh, Amin; Omidvari, Shapour; Mosallaei, Ahmad; Ahmadloo, Niloufar; Ansari, Mansour

doi:10.22038/ijorl.2009.437

The comparison between effect of chemoradiation with weekly cisplatin with or without celecoxib in treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A phase III clinical trial

Document Type : Original

Authors

Mohamad Mohammadianpanah ¹

Sasan Razmjoo Ghalaee ¹

Bijan Khademi ²

Amin Shafizadeh ¹

Shapour Omidvari ¹

Ahmad Mosallaei ¹

Niloufar Ahmadloo ¹

Mansour Ansari ¹

¹ Department of Radiation and Oncology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

² Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

10.22038/ijorl.2009.437

Abstract

Introduction: Concurrent cisplatin-based chemoradiation is currently considered the treatment of choice for locoregional nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Celecoxib is a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor which can potentially enhance the effect of radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of celecoxib in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Materials and Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed locoregional nasopharyngeal carcinoma were included in this clinical trial study. The patients were assigned to receive 7 weeks concurrent chemoradiation with weekly cisplatin and either celecoxib 100 mg twice daily or placebo. After completion of chemoradiation, all patients received combined chemotherapy with cisplatin plus 5-Fu every 3 weeks for 3 cycles. Clinical response rates and treatment-related toxicity were the primary and secondary end-point of the study.
Results: Total of 50 eligible patients with the median age of 43 years were enrolled in the trial. Overall (complete and partial) clinical response rate was 100% in both groups. Complete and partial clinical response rates were 64% and 36% in study group and 44% and 56% in control group respectively (P>0.25). There was no difference in terms of treatment-related toxicity rates between two groups.
Conclusions: This clinical trial showed that addition of celecoxib 100 mg twice daily to concurrent chemoradiation does not increase the response rates and treatment-related toxicities in patients with locoregional nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Keywords

Celecoxib

chemotherapy

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Radiotherapy

Response rate