Treatment of lung cancer using clinically relevant oral doses of the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor rofecoxib: potential value as adjuvant therapy after surgery.
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-2005
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the uses and limitations of cyclooxygenase- (COX) 2 inhibition using clinically relevant doses of oral rofecoxib in the treatment of murine models of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Overexpression of COX-2 has been reported in lung cancer. Several studies have demonstrated that high doses of COX-2 inhibitors could inhibit the growth of rodent and human lung cancer cell lines. The potential uses and limitations of COX-2 inhibition at doses equivalent to those currently approved for use in humans have not been well studied.
METHODS: Three murine NSCLC cell lines were injected into the flanks of mice to establish tumor xenografts. Mice were treated orally with low doses of a COX-2 inhibitor (rofecoxib chow, 0.0075%). Mechanisms were evaluated by analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. To study rofecoxib as adjuvant therapy, large established tumors (14-18 days after tumor inoculation) were surgically debulked and animals were treated with rofecoxib starting 3 days before surgery. Recurrence of the tumor after debulking was monitored.
RESULTS: Rofecoxib significantly slowed the growth of small (0-120 mm) tumors (P < 0.01-0.05) in all 3 cell lines, with higher efficacy in the more immunogenic tumors. Minimal responses were noted in larger tumors. Rofecoxib appeared to augment CD8 T cell infiltration in immunogenic tumors. Rofecoxib significantly reduced the recurrence rate after debulking (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Clinically relevant doses of the COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib given orally were effective in inhibiting the growth of small (but not large) tumors in 3 murine NSCLC cell lines tested and in preventing recurrences after surgical debulking. Depending on the immunogenicity of human tumors, COX-2 inhibition might be useful as adjuvant therapy for surgically resectable NSCLC.
Volume
241
Issue
1
First Page
168
Last Page
178
ISSN
0003-4932
Published In/Presented At
Tanaka, T., Delong, P. A., Amin, K., Henry, A., Kruklitis, R., Kapoor, V., Kaiser, L. R., & Albelda, S. M. (2005). Treatment of lung cancer using clinically relevant oral doses of the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor rofecoxib: potential value as adjuvant therapy after surgery. Annals of surgery, 241(1), 168–178. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.sla.0000149427.84712.d9
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
15622005
Department(s)
Department of Medicine
Document Type
Article