A recent study published in Frontiers in Medicine has demonstrated that continuous infusion of Endostar, when combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy, significantly improves the treatment of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The research highlights enhanced objective response rates and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients receiving Endostar via continuous infusion compared to those receiving intravenous drips or chemoradiotherapy alone.
The study, involving 62 patients with oesophageal carcinoma, compared three treatment groups: Endostar continuous infusion (n=27), Endostar intravenous drip (n=21), and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (n=14). All patients underwent oesophageal radiotherapy (56–60 Gy) alongside concurrent chemotherapy (4 mg of raltitrexed + 100 mg of oxaliplatin, two cycles). The Endostar continuous infusion group received 210 mg of Endostar via infusion every 3 weeks for 72 hours, repeated for two cycles, while the intravenous drip group received 15 mg/day of Endostar once daily for 14 days, repeated for two cycles.
Enhanced Objective Response Rate
The objective response rate (ORR), defined as complete remission plus partial remission, was significantly higher in the Endostar continuous infusion group (100%) compared to the intravenous drip group (95.2%) and the concurrent chemoradiotherapy group (78.6%) (P < 0.05). Specifically, the difference between the continuous infusion and concurrent chemoradiotherapy groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). This suggests that continuous infusion of Endostar provides a more effective initial response compared to chemoradiotherapy alone.
Improved Progression-Free Survival
Both the continuous infusion and intravenous drip groups exhibited higher progression-free survival (PFS) rates than the concurrent chemoradiotherapy group (P < 0.05). This indicates that incorporating Endostar, particularly through continuous infusion, can prolong the period before disease progression, offering a significant advantage in long-term disease management.
Safety Profile
Importantly, the study found no statistically significant difference in adverse reactions among the three groups (P > 0.05), suggesting that the addition of Endostar to chemoradiotherapy does not increase the risk of adverse effects. This supports the safety and tolerability of Endostar when used in conjunction with standard chemoradiotherapy regimens.
Clinical Implications
The findings suggest that concurrent chemotherapy based on endostatin is both effective and safe for treating OSCC. The continuous 3-day Endostar infusion treatment can significantly enhance both short- and long-term therapy efficacy in patients while maintaining a high level of safety. These results offer a promising avenue for improving outcomes in patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
