Efficacy and safety of the combination of paclitaxel, cisplatin and bevacizumab for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of the combined use of paclitaxel, cisplatin, and bevacizumab for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: 98 NSCLC patients who received therapy at Hainan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China from January 2018 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The 45 patients who received paclitaxel and cisplatin injections were enrolled in a control group while 53 patients who received additional chemotherapy with bevacizumab injection were enrolled in a study group. Levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were compared before and after treatment. Furthermore, the efficacy and incidence of adverse reactions were evaluated and compared between the two groups. Results: There was no significant inter-group difference in VEGF and bFGF levels (p > 0.05) before treatment. There was a significant reduction in VEGF and bFGF levels in the study group compared to control group (p < 0.05). The study group showed a significantly higher total remission rate compared to control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (p > 0.05). Also, age, tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) stage, metastasis, and smoking history are risk factors that influence patient prognosis. Conclusion: Combination of paclitaxel, cisplatin and bevacizumab demonstrates significant efficacy in the treatment of NSCLC. The combination lowers VEGF and bFGF levels without worsening adverse reactions. Future large population studies would be required to obtain a more detailed and comprehensive outcome on this combination in NSCLC.