Clinical Study of Nimotuzumab Combined with Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Late Stage Gastric Cancer

Abstract

<br/><b>Objective</b>: To explore the clinical effects of nimotuzumab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment oflate gastric cancer. <br/><b>Methods</b>: A total of 34 reoccurrence or metastatic patients with late stage gastric cancer whowere confirmed by histopathology and/or cytology were selected and randomly divided into observational andcontrol groups, of 17 cases each. Patients in the control group were treated with the standard DCF plan, whilepatients in observational group additionally received nimotuzumab. The short-term and long-term efficacy andadverse reactions in the 2 groups were followed. <br/><b>Results</b>: The objective response rate (ORR) and disease controlrate (DCR) were 64.7% (11/17) and 82.4% (14/17) in observational group and 25.0%(4/16) and 37.5%(6/16)in the control group(ORR and DCR between 2 groups, χ2=5.2412, P=0.0221 and χ2=6.9453, P=0.0084). Themedian progression-free survival (PFS) time and median overall survival (OS) time were 6.50 months and 12.50months in observational group and 4.50 months and 8.25 months in the control group (P=0.0212; P=0.0255). Themain toxic and side effects in the 2 groups were reduced leukocytes and hemoglobin, gastrointestinal reactionsand hair loss and these were relieved after symptomatic treatment and nutrition support therapy. There wereno differences in the occurrence of toxic and side effects between the 2 groups. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Nimotuzumabcombined with DCF plan is effective in treating late stage gastric cancer. A larger scale study is now warrantedfor confirmation of the findings.