Combination treatment with antiEGFR monoclonal antibodies in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma : a meta-analysis

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of the conventional treatment (radiotherapy/RT and chemotherapy/CT) and the combination treatment with antiepidermal growth factor receptor (anti EGFR) monoclonal antibodies in patients with primary nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) using meta-analysis of data retrieved from the literature.

Seven databases (Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, Wanfang,VIP) were searched. Of 537 identified articles, 12 satisfied our eligibility criteria and entered this meta-analysis. A total of 821 patients in 12 randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were included in the study to compare the effect in the short-term and long-term treatment.

The combination treatment improved the objective complete remission rate (CR) of primary NPC and the metastatic lymph nodes, and the 1-year distant metastasis-free survival (MFS) rate relative risk (RR=1.40, 95%CI:1.29-1.53, p=0.00; RR=1.29, 95%CI:1.18-1.42, p=0.00; RR%1.17, 95%CI:1.01-1.35, p=0.03, respectively). There was no difference in the 2- and 3-year MFS rate (RR=1.06, 95%CI:0.85-1.33, p=0.60 ; RR=0.87, 95%CI:0.63-1.22) p=0.43, respectively).

The combination with anti EGFR monoclonal antibodies and conventional treatment (RT and/or CT) improved the short-term therapeutic effect, but this benefit disappeared after 1 year.