The Observation of Clinical Efficacy and Safety of De-Platinum-Based Pleural Perfusion in the Treatment of Malignant Pleural Effusion and Its Correlation with the Expression of VEGF in Pleural Fluid

Abstract

Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is the most common complication of advanced NSCLC. Infusion chemotherapy is currently one of the most common intracavitary treatments for MPE. Unfortunately, there is no definitive consensus on which intracavitary infusion drug has the best effect on the treatment. The use of de-platinum-based thoracic perfusion therapy can offer several advantages, such as reducing drug toxicity and contributing to an improvement in patients’ physical condition. Therefore, this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of de-platinum-based pleural perfusion bevacizumab combined with Brucea Javanica Oil Emulsion Injection (BJOEI) in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion in advanced lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: A total of 60 patients diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma and malignant pleural effusion were selected from Binzhou People’s Hospital, Shandong Provincial Cancer Hospital, and Binzhou Central Hospital between June 2022 and May 2024, with 30 cases treated in each group. The study was divided into two groups: the treatment group received bevacizumab injection perfusion in combination with intravenous infusion of Brucea Javanica Oil Emulsion Injection (BJOEI), while the control group received bevacizumab injection combined with cisplatin perfusion. To analyze the data and evaluate their efficacy and adverse reactions, such as disease control rate (DCR), overall response rate (ORR), Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and so forth. Results: Following the treatment, the quality of life scores in both groups exhibited an increase compared to pre-treatment levels. Moreover, the enhancement observed in the treatment group was deemed statistically significant ( P = 0.007). Following treatment, The expression of VEGF in the pleural effusion of both groups of patients was significantly decreased, and the disparity within the same group was found to be statistically significant ( P < 0.001). The expression level of VEGF in the pleural effusion of the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.001). In the treatment group, the objective response rate (ORR) was 73.3% (22/30), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 93.3% (28/30). In the control group, the ORR was 66.7% (20/30), and the DCR was 90.0% (27/30). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups ( χ 2 = 0.317, P = 0.573; χ 2 = 0.218, P = 0.640). A stratified analysis of factors influencing the ORR revealed that the ORR in both groups exhibited statistical significance when the previous KPS score was below 70 ( χ 2 = 5.850, P = 0.016). The main adverse reactions in both groups included nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal reactions, fatigue, and hematological toxicity. Among them, there was a statistically significant difference in the occurrence of gastrointestinal reactions and fatigue between the two groups ( χ 2 = 8.148, P = 0.004; χ 2 = 6.696, P = 0.010). Conclusion: Bevacizumab, when combined with Brucea Javanica Oil Emulsion Injection (BJOEI), demonstrates noteworthy efficacy in treating malignant pleural effusion. This combination therapy reduces VEGF expression, in which the reduction supports the efficacy of thoracic perfusion and is associated with minimal adverse reactions, contributing to an improvement in patients’ physical condition and overall clinical tolerability, especially for the poor physique, especially in the elderly and KPS score is less than 70. Therefore, it can be considered a recommended approach for managing malignant pleural effusion, offering significant clinical value.