Retrospective study of conversion therapy using two-drug combination chemotherapy with apatinib for unresectable stage gastric cancer / 中国肿瘤临床

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of fluorouracil-based two-drug combination chemotherapy with apatinib, as a conversion therapy, in patients with unresectable gastric cancer (GC). Methods: A retrospective analysis of 33 patients with unresectable stage IV GC receiving conversion therapy at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital between March 2017 and June 2018, was performed. Patients with peritoneal or ovarian metastasis received S1/paclitaxel (PTX)/apatinib (S1 60 mg, bid, days 1-14; PTX 50 mg/m2 iv, days 1 and 8; PTX 20 mg/m2 ip, days 1 and 8; q3w; apatinib 500 mg po, qd). Patients with other non-curable factors were administered a regimen of SOX plus apatinib (oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2, S1 60 mg, bid, days 1-14; apatinib 500 mg po, qd). Apatinib should be withdrawn from the last cycle before surgery. Surgery should be performed after MDT. Results: After at least three cycles chemotherapy, 21 patients achieved partial response (PRand 8 patients had progressive disease (PD), resulting in an objective response rate of 75.7%. Surgery was performed on 22 patients with PR, and 21 patients (63.6%) achieved R0 resection; the number of excised lymph nodes was 57.0±15.6, intraoperative hemorrhage was (164±46) mL, the operation time was (212.0±44.8) min, and the postoperative hospital stay was (13.0±2.7) days. Patients who had surgery had a median progression free survival (mPFS) of 10.5 months and an median overall survival (mOSof 16.5 months; for patients who did not undergo surgery, the median progression free survival (mPFSwas 2.5 months and mOS was 5.5 months. Conclusions: As a conversion therapy, fluorouracil-based two drug-combination chemotherapy with apatinib provided a high R0 resection rate for unresectable stage GC, with an acceptable safety profile. Keywords apatinib, gastric cancer (GC), conversion therapy, safety, efficacy