Purpose: This phase I study was conducted to determine the safety, tolerability and maximum tolerated dose of the combination of celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, with docetaxel and irinotecan, in patients with advanced solid tumors.
Patients and methods: Patients with solid tumors received one of three escalating dose levels of daily celecoxib in combination with docetaxel and irinotecan administered on days 1 and 8 of an every 21-day cycle. Toxicities were graded by the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI CTC) and recorded as maximum grade per patient for each treatment cycle.
Results: A total of 19 patients received 90 cycles of treatment through three dose levels. Dose-limiting toxicities were nausea and diarrhea. The most common treatment-related toxicities in all cycles of treatment were alopecia, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, anemia, anorexia, and edema.. The maximum tolerated dose was established at celecoxib 400 mg twice a day continuously, weekly docetaxel 30 mg/m2 and irinotecan 50 mg/m2 for 2 weeks every 21 days. Disease stabilization (five or more cycles) was documented in eight patients.
Conclusion: The combination of celecoxib with docetaxel and irinotecan did not ameliorate irinotecan-induced diarrhea. Although prolonged disease stabilization was achieved in some patients, we do not recommend combining celecoxib with docetaxel and irinotecan because of lack of activity and the side effect profile of this combination.