celecoxib + letrozole

Celecoxib + letrozole is a combination therapy evaluated for the treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. This regimen combines celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, with letrozole, a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor. Celecoxib works by blocking the COX-2 enzyme, which is involved in prostaglandin synthesis and has been linked to tumor cell growth, angiogenesis, and resistance to apoptosis. Letrozole acts by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme (CYP19A1), which is responsible for the final step in estrogen biosynthesis, thereby reducing the levels of estrogen that can stimulate the growth of hormone-sensitive breast cancer cells. The combination was investigated in a Phase II clinical trial (NCT00101062) sponsored by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey to determine if the dual inhibition of these pathways could improve response rates and delay disease progression compared to aromatase inhibitor therapy alone.

Brand names

CelebrexFemara

Other names

Letrozole and Celecoxib