Efficacy and Safety of Apatinib Combined with S-1 in Treatment of Advanced Gastric Cancer and its Effect on Inflammatory Response and Immune Function

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of apatinib combined with tegafurgimeracil-oteracil potassium capsule (S-1) in treatment of patients with advanced gastric cancer and its effect on inflammatory response and immune function. Seventy-two advanced gastric cancer patients failing in first-line treatment were randomly divided into control group (38 cases) and observation group (34 cases). The control group was treated with S-1, and the observation group was treated with apatinib based on S-1. The therapeutic course was four weeks (three weeks of administration, followed by one week of withdrawal). After three therapeutic courses, the short-term objective remission rate and clinical benefit rate in observation group were significantly higher than those in control group, respectively (P < 0.05). Compared with control group, in observation group the serum levels antigen 19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen, tumor supplied group of factors, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 were significantly decreased, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the peripheral blood CD4(+) level and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio were significantly increased, respectively (P < 0.01), the mean time-to-progression in 1-year follow-up was significantly shortened, and the mean overall survival was significantly prolonged (P < 0.01). Compared with single use of S-1, the combined use of apatinib and S-1 can further inhibit the inflammatory response, enhance the immune function, and improve the therapeutic efficacy for advanced gastric cancer patients.