Biomedical Research

Objective: Our objective is to explore the effects of pemetrexed combined with gefitinib on the life quality of patients with EGFR-TKI resisted advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: 78 advanced NSCLC patients who had EGFR-TKI resistance admitted in our hospital between June 2013-2015 were included and divided into observation group (n=39) and control group (n=39) according to the random number table. The patients in the control group were orally treated with gefitinib and the patients in the observation group were treated with gefitinib combined with pemetrexed. 21 d was set as one cycle and the therapeutic effects were evaluated after 2 cycles.

Results: The short-term effects were not statistically different between two groups (P>0.05). The Quality of Life Questionnaire for Chinese Cancer patients receiving chemobiotherapy (QLQ-CCC) and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scores of the two groups were increased after treatment, which were statistically different (in the control group t=11.0018, 10.3165, 7.0910, 22.0391, 46.4797, in the control group t=5.9088, 4.6628, 4.5348, 11.9525, 24.6582, P<0.05). After treatment, the QLQ-CCC and KPS scores in the observation group were higher than the control group, which were statistically different (t=5.3320, 6.1108, 4.1673, 10.7847, 21.3616, P<0.05). After treatment CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/ CD8+ in the observation group were increased, which were statistically different (t=7.1652, 5.3400, 5.4006, P<0.05). After treatment CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+in the observation group were higher than the control group, which were statistically different (t=8.2899, 4.6675, 5.2571, P<0.05). The median survival time and the non-progressive survival time in the observation group were longer than the control group, which were statistically different (P<0.05). The toxic and adverse reaction rates were not statistically different between two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Pemetrexed combined with gefitinib has good effects on EGFR-TKI resisted advanced NSCLC. This may significantly improve the patient life quality, improve the immune function, and prolong the median survival time and progression-free survival time, which is significant in NSCLC patients.

Author(s): Lei Pan, Jin-biao Zhang, Shasha Liu
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