Common painkiller may boost Chemo's power against cancer

NCT ID NCT01719926

Completed Disease control Sponsor: UMC Utrecht Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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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.

COLORECTAL NEOPLASMS ESOPHAGEAL NEOPLASMS OVARIAN NEOPLASMS

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

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