Efficacy and safety of camrelizumab combined with albumin paclitaxel as second-line therapy for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma / 国际肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab combined with albumin paclitaxel in second-line treatment of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods:Seventy-two patients with advanced or metastatic ESCC who had failed first-line treatment admitted to the Department of Oncology of the Affiliated Hospital of West Anhui Health Vocational College from May 12, 2019 to August 20, 2020 were enrolled. The patients were given camrelizumab combined with albumin paclitaxel (the experimental group, n=45) or second-line chemotherapy (docetaxel or irinotecan, the control group, n=27) according to patients′ preference. Besides, the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), incidence of adverse events, overall survival (OS) and progress free survival (PFS) were assessed. Results:The ORR of the experimental group and the control group were 26.7% (12/45) and 7.4% (2/27) respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=3.996, P=0.046). The DCR of the two groups were 48.9% (22/45) and 29.6% (8/27) respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( χ2=2.575, P=0.109). In terms of adverse events, the experimental group was better tolerated, and the incidence of grade 3 or above adverse events was lower [28.9% (13/45) vs. 55.6% (15/27)], which was 48% lower than that of the control group, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=5.049, P=0.025). One patient in the control group had a treatment-related death. The median OS was 8.9 months (95% CI 7.9-9.8) in the experimental group and 6.5 months (95% CI 5.6-7.3) in the control group, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=5.068, P=0.024). The median PFS was 2.2 months (95% CI 1.6-2.7) in the experimental group and 1.8 months (95% CI 1.5-2.0) in the control group, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=4.799, P=0.028). Conclusion:Camrelizumab combined with albumin paclitaxel in second-line treatment of advanced ESCC patients has proven efficacy and tolerable safety, which may be a potential second-line treatment for advanced ESCC.