Rofecoxib reduces polyp recurrence in familial polyposis

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences Vol. 48; no. 10; pp. 1998 - 2002
• Main Authors: HALLAK, A, ALON-BARON, L, SHAMIR, R, MOSHKOWITZ, M, BULVIK, B, BRAZOWSKI, E, HALPERN, Z, ARBER, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.10.2003; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adenomatous Polyposis Coli - drug therapy; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli - pathology; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli - prevention & control; Adult; Apoptosis; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Division; Colonoscopy; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors - adverse effects; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Digestive system; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lactones - adverse effects; Lactones - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Secondary Prevention; Sigmoidoscopy; Sulfones; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Tropical medicine; Asia; Israel; Human; Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase; Relapse; specific COX-2 inhibitor; Rectal disease; Rofecoxib; Enzyme; Cyclooxygenase 2; Enzyme inhibitor; Familial adenomatous polyposis coli; Statistical study; Genetic disease; Non steroidal antiinflammatory agent; Colonic disease; recurrence; Chemotherapy; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; polyp; Oxidoreductases; Benign neoplasm; Biological effect; familial polyposis
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1026130623186

The long-term (mean of 16.4 +/- 4.2 months) efficacy and safety of rofecoxib (a specific COX-2 inhibitor) in maintaining the colon free of polyps in familial polyposis patients was assessed. Eight patients were treated with rofecoxib 25 mg every day. Sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy was performed at study entry and every six months. At each endoscopy the number, size, and histological grade of all polyps were assessed, and the polyps were removed. The drug was well tolerated with no significant adverse events throughout the study. A highly significant reduction in the rate of polyp formation (70-100%) was observed in all patients from a mean number of 15.1 +/- 11.7 at baseline to 6.0 +/- 5.8 at one year and 1.6 +/- 1.6 at the end of follow-up (P = 0.016 and 0.008, respectively). No patient developed cancer or high-grade adenoma. In conclusion, Long-term use of rofecoxib is well tolerated and effective in inhibiting polyp formation in polyposis patients.