Results of a pilot study of the effects of celecoxib on cancer cachexia in patients with cancer of the head, neck, and gastrointestinal tract.

Background: Animal models suggest that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors may be beneficial in suppressing cancer cachexia. We investigated the effect of short-course celecoxib on body composition, inflammation, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with cancer cachexia in a phase II clinical pilot trial.

Methods: Eleven cachectic patients with head and neck or gastrointestinal cancer were randomly assigned to receive placebo or celecoxib for 21 days while awaiting the initiation of cancer therapy.

Cancer cachexia syndrome in head and neck cancer patients: Part II. Pathophysiology.

Cancer cachexia is a morbid wasting syndrome common among patients with head and neck cancer. While its clinical manifestations have been well characterized, its pathophysiology remains complex. A comprehensive literature search on cancer cachexia was performed using the National Library of Medicine's PubMed.