Celebrex and Lipitor against prostate cancer

According to a new study presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in San Diego, Celebrex and Lipitor, used together or separately, may stop the development of cancer at an early stage. The study was conducted only on mice, but experts have already called the preliminary results as promising.

"We need to explain the molecular principle of action and conduct clinical trials, said Dr. K. Scott Coffield, a professor of surgery at Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine, urologist and oncologist at Scott & White.

Prostate cancer is the second oncological male disease by mortality rate. Early stage of development of prostate cancer depends on male hormones, such as testosterone. Thus, early treatment is usually limited to countering these hormones but such treatment is losing its effectiveness. Tumors, development of which depends on the male hormones are less dangerous than later tumors that do not relate to them.

The researchers assumed that statins (like Lipitor) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Celebrex) may stop the progression of early cancer into a more severe advanced form. Such therapy is less dangerous than other methods of cancer treatment.

"Compared with the complications that occur with other types of cancer treatment, these drugs are safe," says Dr. Ronald D. Ennis from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, Continuum Cancer Centers, New York.

Celebrex is the only drug of its class sold in the U.S. market, while two others, Vioxx and Bextra, were withdrawn because of the safety issues.

The researchers first caused a growth of prostate tumors in mice, and then started treatment with Lipitor or Celebrex, or a combination of these two drugs. All three types of treatment led to abortion of tumor growth.

Interestingly, however, that the combination of Lipitor and Celebrex at lower doses than individually administered, led to a greater effect. "This combination showed a significant effect," said the lead researcher Allan Conney, director of the Laboratory for Cancer Research in the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy of Rutgers University, New York.

"We hope that this method can be applied in the treatment of people," added Dr Conney.

Dr. Ennis doubted that the case is in cholesterol: statins are known to have anti-inflammatory effect, but how they affect the cancer is not clear yet. Once we understand this, we can develop effective treatment".