An experimental model of tumor dormancy therapy for advanced head and neck carcinoma.

An experimental model of tumor dormancy therapy for advanced head and neck carcinoma was developed. After transplantation of KB cells into nude mice, the mice were given tiracoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor, probucol, an antioxidant, and S-1, an oral pro-drug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), or combinations of two of them. The combined administration of tiracoxib with probucol significantly inhibited the tumor growth. The angiogenesis in this group was markedly reduced. Tiracoxib and probucol did not affect the intratumoral concentration of 5-FU when coadministered with S-1. The combined use of tiracoxib and probucol is thus a candidate for use in maintenance therapy after the primary therapy for patients with advanced head and neck carcinoma.