Abstract: Objective To study the clinical effect of celecoxib combined with radiotherapy in the treatment of malignant glioma tumor of brain. Methods A total of 80 patients diagnosed as brain malignant tumor were randomly divided into control group (n=40) and observation group (n=40). The control group received three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for 5 times a week, with dosage 4-6 Gy each time. Base on control group, the observation group received celecoxib 0.2 g/time twice a day during treatment. After 6 weeks, the clinical efficacy, immune function, quality of life and the serum levels of metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9), transforming growth factor- β (TGF- β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were compared between two groups of patients. Results After 6 weeks of the current therapy, the total effective rate was better in observation group than that of control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ increased in the both groups. The level of CD8+ decreased, and the changes of CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ were significantly higher after treatment in the observation group than those of control group, but CD8+ was lower in the observation group than that of control group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the levels of MMP-9, TGF - β and VEGF were significantly decreased after treatment in both two groups. The levels of MMP-9, TGF-β and VEGF were significantly lower after treatment in the observation group (P＜0.05). The life quality was significantly better and the overall efficiency of the improvement of the disease was higher in observation group than those of control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Celecoxib can enhance the radiosensitivity of glioma patients. The combined treatment can improve the clinical efficacy and quality of life of patients. Moreover, it improves patients’immune function and reduces the levels of VEGF, TGF-β and MMP-9.

Key words: radiotherapy, brain neoplasms, glioma, celecoxib, immune function