Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the leading causes of cancer diagnosis and cancer-related deaths globally. Standard treatments for NSCLC, such as surgery and chemotherapy, have limited efficacy and are accompanied by adverse side effects. Combining the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody drug Cetuximab with natural killer (NK) cell therapy holds great potential for treating advanced NSCLC. Previous studies have shown that combining Cetuximab with radiation or chemotherapy can improve survival rates in NSCLC patients, while NK cell therapy has also shown promise in treating tumors in other parts of the body. Scientists conducted a randomized clinical trial to analyze the efficacy and safety of Cetuximab combined with NK cell therapy as a second and third-line treatment for EGFR-expressing advanced NSCLC.
This study was designed as a clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of cetuximab plus natural killer (NK) cell therapy in patients with advanced EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A total of 54 patients with advanced EGFR-positive NSCLC were randomly assigned, with 27 patients receiving cetuximab plus NK cell therapy (group A) and 27 patients receiving cetuximab alone (group B). In group A, patients received two continuous courses of NK cell therapy and intravenous administration of cetuximab was continued. The adverse effects of both treatments were manageable and there was no significant difference noted between the two groups. Levels of CEA, NSE and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in group A were significantly lower than those before treatment. Patients in group A had a significant improvement in immune function and quality of life (QOL). Patients in group A survived longer than those in group B (median PFS: 6 months vs 4.5 months; median OS: 9.5 months vs 7.5 months). This suggests that combination therapy may be an alternative treatment option for patients with advanced NSCLC.
Reference：Am J Cancer Res 2018;8(5):879-891
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