Apatinib combined with chemotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer and its effect on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2

Abstract

Objective To investigate the efficacy of apatinib combined with chemotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer and its effect on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. Methods A total of 84 patients with advanced gastric cancer who were treated at our hospital from May, 2013 to October, 2015 were enrolled. The random number table was used to divided them into a control group (n=42) and an observation group (n=42). The control group was treated with conventional chemotherapy; in addition, the observation group was treated with apatinib. The treatment effects were evaluated after 3 treatment courses. The patients were followed up for 25 months after the treatment. The short-term efficacy was evaluated by the US RECIST1.1 objective evaluation criteria. The level of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The short-term efficacy, the level of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, tumor markers, incidence of adverse reactions, and survival time were compared between the two groups. Results The short-term efficacy after three treatment courses was 76.19% in the observation group, and 50.00% in the control group (P 0.05). Both groups completed 3 treatment courses, and were followed up for 25 months after the treatment. The median PFS time was 10 months in the observation group, and was 7 months in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion The combination of apatinib and chemotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer can obtain high short-term efficacy, reduce the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and tumor markers, does not increase the incidence of adverse reactions, and prolong patient survival time, so it is worth being generalized. Key words: Apatinib; Chemotherapy; Advanced gastric cancer; Short-term efficacy; Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2; Tumor markers; Adverse reactions