Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of apatinib mesylate combined with XELOX regimen in the first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy and safety of XELOX regimen with or without apatinib mesylate in the first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

MethodsThe clinical data of 65 patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer were retrospectively analyzed.Thirty-five patients who received first-line chemotherapy with apatinib mesylate combined with XELOX regimen were included in the apatinib combined chemotherapy group, and 30 patients who received first-line chemotherapy with XELOX regimen were included in the chemotherapy group.Before the start of treatment and after the end of two cycles of treatment, the curative effect was evaluated, and the survival time and adverse reactions of patients were counted.

ResultsThe short-term objective response rate (60.00% vs 23.33%) and disease control rate (88.57% vs 50.00%) of the apatinib combined chemotherapy group were better than those of the chemotherapy group (P < 0.01).By the time of follow-up, the median progression free survival was 8.9 months (95%CI: 0.679-2.382) and the median overall survival was 15 months (95%CI: 0.689-2.699) in the apatinib combined chemotherapy group.The median progression free survival was 7 months (95%CI: 0.420-1.474) and the median overall survival was 11 months (95%CI: 0.371-1.451) in the chemotherapy group.The survival time of apatinib combined with chemotherapy group was better than that of chemotherapy group (P < 0.05).The adverse reactions of the two groups were similar.There was no significant difference in the incidence of any level of adverse reactions between the apatinib combined chemotherapy group and the chemotherapy group(P>0.05).

ConclusionsApatinib mesylate combined with XELOX is a safe and effective option for the first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer.