Clinical benefit from EGFR-TKI plus ginsenoside Rg3 in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring EGFR active mutation

// Yan Li 1, * , Yanmei Wang 1, * , Kai Niu 1 , Xiewan Chen 2 , Liqin Xia 1 , Dingxi Lu 2 , Rui Kong 1 , Zhengtang Chen 1 , Yuzhong Duan 1 , Jianguo Sun 1 1 Department of Oncology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China 2 Medical English Department, College of Basic Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Yuzhong Duan, email: cqxqyy@foxmail.com Jianguo Sun, email: sunjg09@aliyun.com Keywords: advanced NSCLC, EGFR active mutation, targeted molecular therapy, ginsenoside Rg3, angiogenesis Received: April 11, 2016      Accepted: August 25, 2016      Published: September 16, 2016 ABSTRACT Purpose: Acquired resistance is a bottleneck that restricts the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) for lung cancer. Ginsenoside Rg3 is an antiangiogenic agent which can down-regulate the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and EGFR. Combination of EGFR-TKI and ginsenoside Rg3 may be a promising strategy to delay acquired resistance. This retrospective study explored the efficacy and safety of this combined regimen in patients with EGFR mutation and advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results: By the deadline of March 31 th 2016, the median follow-up period reached 22.9 months. The median PFS was significantly longer in group A than in group B (12.4 months vs 9.9 months, P = 0.017). In addition, ORR was significantly higher in group A than in group B (59.6% vs 41.7%, P = 0.049). The median OS in group A showed no extended tendency compared with that in group B (25.4 months vs 21.4 months, P = 0.258). No significant difference in side effects was found between the two groups. Methods: A total of 124 patients with advanced NSCLC and EGFR active mutation were collected and analyzed. All of them were treated with first-line EGFR-TKI and divided into two groups. In group A (n=52), patients were administered EGFR-TKI plus ginsenoside Rg3 at standard doses. In group B (n=72), patients received EGFR-TKI alone. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR) and side effects were analyzed. Conclusions: Ginsenoside Rg3 improves median PFS and ORR of first-line EGFR-TKI treatment in EGFR-mutant advanced NSCLC patients, thus providing a new regimen to delay acquired resistance of EGFR-TKI.