A Study of Irinotecan, Cisplatin and Celebrex in Patients With Metastatic or Unresectable Esophageal Cancer
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2008-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This study is for patients with cancer of the esophagus. This study uses the drugs
irinotecan, cisplatin and celecoxib. Irinotecan (also known as CPT-11) was recently approved
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in colon cancer, but has not been
approved by the FDA for use in the treatment of cancers of the esophagus. Cisplatin is a drug
that is commonly used to treat patients with cancer of the esophagus. We are combining these
two chemotherapy drugs with a drug called Celebrex. Celebrex (also called Celecoxib) is an
oral medication that is approved by the FDA for pain in the treatment of arthritis. There is
some information to suggest that this drug may have anti-cancer activity. In prior studies
combining irinotecan and cisplatin, tumors of the esophagus have been shown to shrink. We are
adding Celebrex to these drugs to see if it makes the drugs work better to shrink cancer or
cause fewer side effects.