Purpose: Nimotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to inhibit tumor growth. Nimotuzumab has demonstrated desirable therapeutic activity in various types of tumors. However, the benefit of nimotuzumab for the treatment of cervical cancer is not entirely clear. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of nimotuzumab in the presence of CCRT in the first-line treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC).
Methods: The therapeutic efficacy and side effects of nimotuzumab combined with concurrent radiochemotherapy (CCRT) were retrospectively assessed in inoperable patients with LACC (stage IIb-IIIb) who were treated using CCRT with or without nimotuzumab.
Results: The complete response rate of study group was significantly better than control group (78.3% vs 50%, P =0.035). The difference in median progression-free survival (PFS) in the two groups was statistically significan (not reach vs 27 months, P =0.037). Multivariate comparisons of prognostic factors in the two groups indicated that both the Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d’Obstétrique (FIGO) stage and combined nimotuzumab treatment affected PFS (P <0.05). Although generally tolerable, grade 3–4 toxicities including leukopenia (P =0.025) and hemoglobin (P =0.026) reduction were more frequent in the control group than those in the study group.
Conclusion: These data suggest that combining nimotuzumab with CCRT for the treatment of LACC resulted in extended PFS and higher complete remission rates, without an increased incidence of adverse events.
Keywords: EGFR monoclonal antibody, Nimotuzumab, cervical cancer, concurrent radiochemotherapy, PFS