Abstract
In ovarian cancer, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) overexpression is prognostic for poor survival. We investigated the efficacy of celecoxib (C), a selective COX-2 inhibitor, added to docetaxel (Taxotere)/carboplatin (DC) in advanced ovarian cancer.
In a phase II, randomized study, 400 mg celecoxib b.i.d. was added to first-line DC treatment (DCC). Celecoxib was to be continued after DC termination up to 3 years. Study end points were tolerability, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).
151 of 196 eligible patients were diagnosed with stage IIIC/IV disease. Median follow-up for patients alive was 32.3 months. Celecoxib was used during a mean of 8.5 months. Twenty-three of 97 DCC patients stopped celecoxib prematurely, mainly due to skin reactions. Complete biochemical response was achieved in 51/78 DC patients (65%) versus 57/78 DCC patients (75%, not significant). In both study arms, median PFS was 14.3 months and median OS 34 months. COX-2 was expressed in 82% of 120 tumor samples retrospectively recovered. The PFS and OS of patients with intermediate/high COX-2 expression were similar to that in the other patients.
Celecoxib did not influence PFS and OS, but interpretation of results is hampered by premature celecoxib discontinuation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2896-2902 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Annals of Oncology |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov-2012 |
Keywords
- carboplatin
- celecoxib
- docetaxel
- epithelial ovarian cancer
- first-line chemotherapy
- randomized phase II study
- CELL LUNG-CANCER
- CYCLOOXYGENASE-2 EXPRESSION
- TRIAL
- PACLITAXEL
- DOXORUBICIN
- INTERGROUP
- CISPLATIN
- WOMEN
- RISK