TRIAL DATA
Adding celecoxib to immunotherapy increases complete response in MSI-H colorectal cancer — Lancet Oncology
A phase 2 trial tested whether adding celecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor) to the immunotherapy drug toripalimab would improve outcomes in patients with mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) locally advanced colorectal cancer before surgery. The PICC-2 trial enrolled patients aged 18-75 years with clinical stage T3-T4 or any clinical T stage with lymph node involvement at three academic hospitals in China. Preclinical studies suggested that COX-2 inhibition might modulate the inflammatory tumor microenvironment and enhance the effect of PD-1 blockade.
What this means
If your tumor is MSI-H or dMMR and you're considering neoadjuvant immunotherapy, this trial suggests that adding celecoxib—a commonly available anti-inflammatory drug—might improve your chances of a complete pathological response. Ask your oncologist whether this combination is appropriate for your situation.