BACKGROUNDTo evaluate and compare the effects and toxicity of the domestic product of nrhTNF combined with chemotherapy in the trial group and chemotherapy alone in the control group in the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSNinety patients with NSCLC in multicenter were randomly devided into trial group and control group. Each group had 45 patients. Chemotherapy with CAP regimen was given for the patients in the trial group. Meanwhile, nrhTNF injection of 4×10⁶U/m ² was also given from the 1st to 7th days, the 11th to 17th days on the chemotherapy course. Twenty-one days were as a cycle, 2 cycles were given each patients. Chemotherapy alone with CAP regimen was given in the control group. The chemothepeutic effects and toxicity were observed and compared between the two groups after the therapy.

RESULTSOf the 90 patients, 3 cases in each group were out of the trial because of economy. The other 84 cases (each group had 42 patients) could be used to analyze and evaluate the clinical effects and toxicity. The response rate of chemotherapy was 47.62% (20/42) in the trial group and 19.05% (8/42) in the control group (P=0.002) respectively. The KPS was 85.02±10.74 in the trial group, and 81.35±9.63 in the control group (P=0.038). No significant difference of degree III+IV toxicity was observed between the trial group and control group (P > 0.05). The side effects related to nrhTNF included slight fever, cold like symptoms, pain, and red and swelling in injection site. All of them were mild and didn't need any treatment and disappeared after the therapy.

CONCLUSIONSThe results demonstrate that the effects of domestic nrhTNF combined with chemotherapy can remarkably higher than that of chemotherapy alone in the treatment of NSCLC. It is able to increase the sensitivity to chemotherapy and improve the quality of life of the patients. The toxicity is also slight and is worth to expand clinical use, so as to further evaluate its effect and toxicity.