Efficacy and safety of nimotuzumab combined with chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer

BACKGROUND: Platinum-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the primary treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). Improving the efficacy of LACC treatment is the focus of clinical research, and nimotuzumab combined with CCRT is a new research direction. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of nimotuzumab combined with CCRT compared with CCRT alone for treating LACC. METHODS: Data from LACC patients treated at The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from March 2017 to December 2019 were collected, and patients were assigned to either a nimotuzumab plus chemoradiotherapy (N + CCRT) group or a CCRT group. Baseline data were also collected. Patients were followed up every 3 to 6 months by imaging examination or telephone. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were complete response rate (CRR), objective response rate (ORR), and incidence of adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: A total of 120 patients (65 in the N + CCRT group and 55 in the CCRT group) were enrolled, which baseline data were no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). In the N + CCRT group, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year cumulative survival rates were 98.46%, 95.38%, and 90.50%, respectively, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year cumulative PFS rates were 89.23%, 83.08%, and 79.73%, respectively. The CRR was 86.15% (56/65), and the ORR was 92.31% (60/65). In the CCRT group, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year cumulative survival rates were 94.55%, 87.27%, and 78.18%, respectively, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year cumulative PFS rates were 81.82%, 69.09%, and 59.69%, respectively. The CRR was 70.91% (39/55), and the ORR was 87.27% (48/55). The CRR (86.15% vs. 70.91%, P=0.040) and 3-year cumulative PFS rates (79.73% vs. 59.69%, P=0.039) were significantly higher in the N + CCRT group than in the CCRT group. The incidences of various AEs were from 5.45% to 95.38%, without significant difference in AEs between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nimotuzumab combined with CCRT enhanced the PFS and CRR of LACC patients and was well tolerated. The results can provide reference for clinical treatment of LACC.