Researchers from the University of North Carolina have reported that treatment of patients with cancer cachexia with Celebrex (celecoxib) resulted in weight gain, increased body mass index (BMI) and improved quality of life (QOL) measurements. The details of this study were published early on-line on July 5, 2007 in Head and Neck.  

Cachexia is a debilitating and life-threatening effect of advanced cancer and non-malignant diseases, such as AIDS. Cachexia is diagnosed when there is an involuntary weight loss of more than 5% of weight within a 3-6 month period. Cachexia is a constellation of anorexia, fat and muscle tissue wasting, psychological distress, and reduced quality of life. It is thought that cachexia arises from metabolic abnormalities, pro-inflammatory cytokine production, decreased food intake and probably a host of unidentified mechanisms. Cytokines are thought to play a pivotal role in the development of cachexia. 

The authors of the current study randomly allocated eleven patients with head and neck or GI cancer to be treated with Celebrex or placebo for 21 days prior to beginning chemotherapy. They found that patients receiving Celebrex had weight gain and increased BMI while patients on placebo had weight loss and decline in BMI. Celebrex patients also had an increase in QOL measurements.  

Comments: This is a provocative study that needs to be confirmed in larger studies. Since there are few if any treatments for cachexia related to cancer, this study should be followed up.

Reference:  Lai V, George J, Richey L, et al. Results of a pilot study of the effects of celecoxib on cancer cachexia in patients with cancer of the Head, Neck, and gastrointestinal tract. Head and Neck. 2007; epub-on July 5.

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