Efficacy and adverse effets of nimotuzumab plus palitaxel liposome and carboplatin in the treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy of nimotuzumab combined with palitaxel liposome and carboplatin (LP) regimen for treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to observe the changes of tumor markers and toxicities in the treatment. METHODS Forty-one patients with advanced NSCLC were randomly divided into 2 groups: 21 patients in the observation group were treated with nimotuzumab (200 mg per week for 6 weeks), palitaxel liposome 160 mg/m2 and carboplatin (AUC = 6). 20 patients in the control group were given LP regimen. Each group completed two cycles of chemotherapy. The level of tumor markers (CEA, CYFR21-1 and NSE) and toxicities were checked at one week before and after the treatment. Thoracic CT examinations were taken before treatment and at the fourth week and eighth week after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the observation group, there were 2 cases of CR, 7 cases of PR, 9 cases of SD and 3 cases of PD. The objective response rate (RR) was 42. 9% in the observation group. In the control group, there were 1 case of CR, 6 cases of PR, 8 cases of SD and 5 cases of PD, with a RR of 35.0% in this group. There was no significant difference in the RR between the two groups (P = 0.751). The time to progression (TIP) was 6. 9 months in the observation group and 5. 7 months in the control group, with a significant difference (P = 0.027). The levels of NSE decreased significantly in both groups and showed a significant difference (P = 0.039). The levels of CEA and CYFRA21 in both groups were decreased after treatment, but did not show a significant difference before and after treatment, respectively. Except 3 cases had I-II skin toxicities on the faces in the observation group, there was no significant difference in toxicities between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Nimotuzmab combined with LP regimen shows a synergistic effect, can increase the efficacy and prolong TFP in advanced NSCLC patients. The toxicities are mild and tolerable.</p>

Recombinant human endostatin combined with TP regimen as postoperative adjuvant treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer: Efficacy analysis / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the mid-term and long-term efficacy of recombinant human endostatin (rh-endostatin, EndostarTM) in combination with docetaxel and carboplatin (TP) regimen as a postoperative adjuvant treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 76 patients who were admitted from October 2006 to July 2008. These patients were diagnosed with NSCLC and experienced complete excision. They were randomly divided into two groups (n=38): Endostar™ plus TP regimen was adopted for the treatment group, while only the TP regimen was used for the control group. After 40 months of postoperative followup, the difference in disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between the two groups was evaluated, and the number of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and tumor microvessel density (MVD) were measured. Results DFS was significantly longer in the treatment group than in the control group (39.4 months versus 27.6 months, P<0.05). The three-year OS rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (89.4% versus 57.9%, P<0.05). The CECs decreased in both groups after the treatment, while the decline in the treatment group was more significant compared with the control group after four cycles of chemotherapy (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the MVD between stages I, II, and III (P<0.05). The MVD in the patients with positive lymph nodes was significantly higher than that in the patients with negative lymph nodes. The MVD in poor differentiation was higher than that in moderate/good differentiation (P<0.05). Conclusions By comparing with the simple chemotherapy treatment, EndostarTM plus TP regimen as an adjuvant treatment was able to prolong the DFS and improve the three-year OS rate of NSCLC patients. CEC is a good indicator for predicting the efficacy of chemotherapy plus anti-angiogenesis treatment.

Biological characteristics and therapeutic application of EML4-ALK fusion gene in non-small cell lung cancer / 肿瘤

The fusion gene between echinoderm EML 4 (microtubule-associated protein-like 4) and ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) has been identified in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EML4-ALK is most commonly detected in never smokers with NSCLC and has unique pathologic features. EML4- ALK is oncogenic both in vitro and in vitro . ALK inhibitor (crizotinib) has demonstrated a remarkable clinical efficacy in EML4-ALK-positive NSCLC patients. This review emphasizes the biological and clinical characteristics and the therapeutic application of EML4-ALK in NSCLC. © 2012 by Tumor.