Study: Vioxx May Be as Effective as Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer

Boston University researchers reported that Vioxx, a drug commonly prescribed to relieve arthritis pain, may potentially be as effective as standard chemotherapy in prolonging the lives of patients with colorectal cancer.

In a mouse study, investigators found that low doses of Vioxx -- a member of the newest class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) known as a COX-2 inhibitor -- shrank tumors in the mice and slowed the cancer’s spread to the liver.

“What’s really remarkable is that this drug, which is relatively safe and well-tolerated, was just as good as the most potent, toxic agents that are used now,” said Dr. M. Michael Wolfe, chief of gastroenterology at Boston University School of Medicine. “If you can prolong life for a few months without making people sick, then you’ve got a real winner."

In their study reported in the journal Cancer Research, Vioxx was fed to the mice with colon cancer, alone or in combination with standard chemotherapy drugs. After 14 days, mice fed Vioxx alone and with the chemotherapy drug irinotecan, but not the chemotherapy drug 5-fluoruracil, had significantly smaller primary tumors and fewer metastases.

The mice given Vioxx also lived longer. In one survival study, 90 percent of mice with colorectal cancer died within 30 days, while only 5 percent -- one mouse -- died in the group given Vioxx.

“These studies demonstrate that Vioxx decreases the growth and metastatic potential of colorectal cancer in mice through multiple mechanisms," the researchers concluded. "These studies in mice also provide important information that supports the benefit of COX-2 inhibition, not only in the prevention of colorectal cancer, but also potentially in the treatment of this common malignancy.

"Clinical trials will be necessary to assess the utility of COX-2 inhibitors as adjuvant therapy for early-stage disease and as potential agents, either alone or in combination, with more established drugs, for the treatment of refractory colorectal cancer," the researchers said.

Other Sources: Cancer Research