Efficacy and safety of celecoxib monotherapy for mild to moderate depression in patients with colorectal cancer: A randomized double-blind, placebo controlled trial

Cancer-related inflammation is an essential process in malignancies. Celecoxib, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that acts via the selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, has shown favorable effects in several psychiatric disorders. The present study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of celecoxib single therapy on depressive symptoms of patients with colorectal cancer who underwent chemotherapy. The study was conducted as a 6-week, parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Forty participants randomly received either 400 mg/day celecoxib or placebo. Treatment effect was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score at baseline and at week 2, 4 and 6 of the trial. Over 6 weeks, patients who received celecoxib showed significant improvement in scores of the Hamilton Depression rating Scale (P=0.003). When comparing the Mean Difference (95% CI) between the two groups of therapy, the celecoxib group demonstrated greater reduction in HDRS score during the study period at weeks 4 (1.95, 95% CI 0.27-3.63, P value =0.024) and 6 (2.60, 95% CI 0.96-4.23, P=0.003). This study indicates celecoxib as a potential monotherapy treatment strategy for mild to moderate depression in patients with colorectal cancer who underwent chemotherapy.