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Effects of long-term cyclo-oxygenase 2 selective and acid inhibition on Barrett's oesophagus.

Lanas A, Ortego J, Sopeña F, Alcedo J, Barrio E, Bujanda L, Cosme A, Bajador E, Parra-Blanco A, Ferrandez A, Piazuelo E, Quintero E, Pique JM

Service of Digestive Diseases, University Hospital, Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, CIBERehd, Zaragoza, Spain. alanas@unizar.es

BACKGROUND: There is an overexpression of cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) in Barrett's oesophagus (BO). AIM: To determine the long-term effect of a COX-2 inhibitor on cellular mechanisms involved in BO. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in BO patients allocated to continue the usual proton pump inhibitor (PPI) alone treatment, or PPI combined with rofecoxib (25 mg/day) for 6 months. Cell proliferation index and COX-2 expression in BO glands was determined in biopsy specimens at baseline and after treatment. Cell apoptosis, cyclin D1, p53 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was also explored in a subset of patients. Student-t test and the U-Mann-Whitney test were used for quantitative and ordinal variables. RESULTS: Of 62 patients, 58 completed the study. A higher proportion of patients on rofecoxib + PPI exhibited a decrease in COX-2 expression compared to those treated with PPI alone, but cell proliferation index was not affected. Unlike PPI alone, rofecoxib + PPI was associated with an increase in the apoptotic cell index, a decrease in p53 cell staining and VEGF expression in mucosal vessels. No effect on low-grade dysplasia or cyclin D1 was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of rofecoxib to PPI therapy does not affect cell proliferation index in BO cells after 6 months of therapy, but does reduce COX-2 and VEGF expression and increases cell apoptosis.

Published 4 September 2007 in Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 26(6): 913-23.
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