Iressa® and Celebrex® Show Promise for Head and Neck Cancer
10/6/2005 Ketchum, ID staff CancerConsultants.com According to a phase I clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, 22% of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell cancer of the head and neck experienced a partial reduction of their cancer following treatment with Iressa® (gefitinib) and Celebrex® (celecoxib). Head and neck cancers originate in the throat, larynx (voice box), pharynx, salivary glands, or oral cavity (lip, mouth, tongue). Most head and neck cancers involve squamous cells, which are the cells that line the mouth, throat, and other structures. When initially diagnosed, more than 70% of patients have cancer that has advanced locally, regionally, or to distant locations in the body. Iressa is an anti-cancer agent that selectively blocks epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR). EGFR is a protein involved in the growth and replication of a cell. In some cancers, the EGFR may not be working properly, leading to excessive replication of the cancer cell. Iressa is taken orally and binds to a portion of EGFR to inhibit cancer cell growth. Celebrex is a pain reliever that inhibits the COX-2 enzyme. COX-2 is overexpressed in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, and higher levels are associated with worse prognosis. To evaluate use of Iressa and Celebrex in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, researchers conducted a phase I clinical trial in 19 patients. All patients had inoperable cancer and had experienced cancer progression after at least one previous regimen of chemotherapy [...]