Objective: To evaluate the role of nimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: The clinical data of 37 NSCLC patients who received nimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital from January 2009 to October 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Of the thirty-seven patients, 12 patients were in stage III B, 25 patients in stage IV. Twenty-four patients recived platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with nimotuzumab, 13 patients recived nonplatinum-based chemotherapy in combination with nimotuzumab. Ten patients received nimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy as first-line regimen, 23 patients as second-line regimen, 4 patients as third-line regimen.
Results: Of the 37 advanced NSCLC patients who received nimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy, the total number of chemotherapy were 137 cycles, the mean number was 3.7 cycles. One patient had complete remission (CR), 9 patients had partial remission (PR), 16 cases had stable disease (SD), and 11 patients had progressive disease (PD). The response rate (RR) was 27% and clinical benefit rate (CBR) was 70.3%. The main side effects were bone marrow suppression and gastrointestinal reactions. Grade I acneiform rash was found in one patient.
Conclusion: The regimen of nimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy can improve the response rate and was well tolerated in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.