Mohamad Mohammadianpanah - Department of Radiation and Oncology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Sasan Razmjoo Ghalaee - Department of Radiation and Oncology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Bijan Khademi - Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Amin Shafizadeh - Department of Radiation and Oncology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Shapour Omidvari - Department of Radiation and Oncology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Ahmad Mosallaei - Department of Radiation and Oncology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Niloufar Ahmadloo - Department of Radiation and Oncology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Mansour Ansari - Department of Radiation and Oncology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Introduction: Concurrent cisplatin-based chemoradiation is currently considered the treatment of choice for locoregional nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Celecoxib is a selective cyclooxygenase-۲ (COX-۲) 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 ۷ weeks concurrent chemoradiation with weekly cisplatin and either celecoxib ۱۰۰ mg twice daily or placebo. After completion of chemoradiation, all patients received combined chemotherapy with cisplatin plus ۵-Fu every ۳ weeks for ۳ cycles. Clinical response rates and treatment-related toxicity were the primary and secondary end-point of the study. Results: Total of ۵۰ eligible patients with the median age of ۴۳ years were enrolled in the trial. Overall (complete and partial) clinical response rate was ۱۰۰% in both groups. Complete and partial clinical response rates were ۶۴% and ۳۶% in study group and ۴۴% and ۵۶% in control group respectively (P>۰.۲۵). There was no difference in terms of treatment-related toxicity rates between two groups. Conclusions: This clinical trial showed that addition of celecoxib ۱۰۰ mg twice daily to concurrent chemoradiation does not increase the response rates and treatment-related toxicities in patients with locoregional nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Celecoxib, chemotherapy, Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Radiotherapy, Response rate