Does celecoxib improve the efficacy of chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer?

Clinical trials have reported conflicting results about whether celecoxib plus chemotherapy improves outcomes over chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

We performed a meta-analysis comparing the primary and secondary endpoints of treatment with celecoxib plus chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Six eligible trials (1181 patients) were selected from the 206 studies that were identified initially. A significant difference, favouring celecoxib plus chemotherapy over chemotherapy alone, was observed in the overall response rate [odds ratio (OR) 1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08, 1.67; P = 0.009). However, there was no difference in the 1-year survival rate (OR 1.08; 95% CI 0.86, 1.35; P = 0.512), clinical benefit (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.88, 1.25; P = 0.613), complete response (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.39, 1.51; P = 0.446) or partial response (OR 1.22; 95% CI 0.92, 1.63; P = 0.163). Toxicity did not differ significantly with the exception of the occurrence of leucopenia and thrombocytopenia.

Celecoxib plus chemotherapy appeared to improve the overall response rate compared with chemotherapy alone in the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Further prospective randomized controlled trials are now needed.