Common painkiller may boost Chemo's power against cancer

NCT ID NCT01719926

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This early-phase study tested whether adding indomethacin, a common anti-inflammatory drug, to standard platinum-based chemotherapy is safe for people with colorectal, esophageal, or ovarian cancers. The 13 participants received escalating doses of indomethacin alongside their chemo. The main goal was to find safe dosing levels and watch for side effects, not to measure effectiveness.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Indomethacin (a COX inhibitor, similar to ibuprofen) combined with platinum-based chemotherapy

What this could lead to

If successful, this could point toward a way to make chemotherapy more effective by blocking resistance signals from stem cells.

What could go wrong

This is a very early, small Phase 1 trial with only 13 participants. It only tests safety and dosing, not whether it actually works. Indomethacin can cause stomach bleeding or kidney issues.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

colorectal neoplasm Esophageal Neoplasms neoplasm of esophagus ovarian cancer ovarian neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Meander Medisch Centrum

    Amersfoort, Utrecht, 3813TZ, Netherlands

  • Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland

    Bellinzona, CH-6500, Switzerland

  • UMC Utrecht

    Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584CX, Netherlands

  • the Netherlands Cancer Institute

    Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1066 CX, Netherlands