title: Clinical benefit from EGFR-TKI plus ginsenoside Rg3 in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring EGFR active mutation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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 31th 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
authors.forename: Yanmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Medical English Department, College of Basic Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors.forename: Xiewan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
authors.forename: Liqin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Medical English Department, College of Basic Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors.forename: Dingxi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
authors.forename: Zhengtang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
authors.forename: Yuzhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000855:Anorexia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D036145:Ginsenosides; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C097367:ginsenoside Rg3; D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: EGFR active mutation; advanced NSCLC; angiogenesis; ginsenoside Rg3; targeted molecular therapy