Effect of EGFR-targeted therapy in combination with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone on oral cancer pain

doi:10.19438/j.cjoms.2023.03.003

Abstract

Abstract: PURPOSE: To compare the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted (EGFR-targeted) therapy in combination with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone on oral cancer pain. METHODS: Ninety oral cancer patients with chronic cancer pain were divided into chemotherapy alone group (group G0) and EGFR-targeted therapy combined with chemotherapy group (group G1) according to the type of treatment they received. Pain intensity was assessed at baseline (T0), day 1 (T1), day 7 (T2) and at the end of month 3 (T3) using visual analogue scale (VAS) and numerical rating scale for pain(NRS). The patients were assessed for neuropathic pain using self-administrative Leeds neuropathic pain signs and symptoms scale (S-LANSS), and adjunctive analgesic use, sleep duration were recorded at T0 and T3. Treatment side effects and satisfaction were recorded at T3. SPSS 26.0 software package was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Of the 90 patients, 31 cases were included in G0 group and 59 cases were included in G1 group. The average age of patients was 60.64 years and 70% were male. There was no significant difference in VAS and NRS at T0 between G0 group and G1 group(P>0.05). VAS and NRS at T1, T2 and T3 were significantly lower in G1 group compared to G0 group(P<0.05). Patients in G1 group used significantly less analgesic medication (P<0.05), slept longer(P<0.05) and were more satisfied (P<0.05) than those in G0 group at T3. CONCLUSIONS: EGFR-targeted therapy in combination with chemotherapy are more effective than chemotherapy alone in the alleviation of oral cancer pain and reduce the use of adjuvant analgesics.

Key words: Oral cancer, EGFR, Chemotherapy, Cancer pain

CLC Number:

R739.8

WANG Zi-heng, ZHOU Ren, YAN Jia, ZHANG Lei, YANG Ya-qiong, JIANG Hong. Effect of EGFR-targeted therapy in combination with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone on oral cancer pain[J]. China Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2023, 21(3): 225-230.

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