Background: Primary lung cancer with severe central airway obstruction (CAO) is often life-threatening. In this study, we investigated the clinical efficacy and safety of cisplatin plus recombinant human endostatin (rh-endostatin) intratumoral injection in treatment of malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO) caused by primary squamous cell lung cancer.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with MCAO caused by primary squamous cell lung cancer treated with and without bronchoscopic intratumoral injection of cisplatin plus rh-endostatin between January 2007 and June 2016.
Results: A total of 206 patients received cisplatin plus rh-endostatin intratumoral injection, and 113 without injection. Dyspnea grade, degree of stenosis, quality of life and lung function of all patients were significantly improved at 1 week after treatment compared with baseline. Both groups achieved good airway patency (97.1% vs. 93.8%, P=0.156). Followed up at 2 months, all parameters were improved in the injection group compared with baseline, while no statistical differences were observed in the non-injection group (P>0.05). The injection group achieved airway patency in 155 (75.2%) of 206 patients, which was significantly superior to the non-injection group [20 (17.7%) of 113, P<0.001]. In addition, the restenosis rate of the injection group was lower compared with the non-injection group (22.5% vs. 81.1%, P<0.001, respectively). No serious complications were observed in two groups.
Conclusions: Cisplatin plus rh-endostatin intratumoral injection is effective and safe for the therapy of MCAO caused by primary squamous cell lung cancer.
Keywords: Cisplatin; airway obstruction; intratumoral injection; lung cancer; recombinant human endostatin.
2021 Journal of Thoracic Disease. All rights reserved.