Abstract
BACKGROUND: Some studies have demonstrated that combination treatment with anlotinib and albumin-bound paclitaxel has superior efficacy in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Howbeit, there is limited research on the effects of combination therapy. AIM: To determine the efficacy of anlotinib plus albumin-paclitaxel in stage IV NSCLC. METHODS: Forty-two patients diagnosed with stage IV NSCLC who were treated at our hospital from January 2022 to February 2023 were selected as study subjects. According to the research protocol, the patients were divided into two groups: conventional therapy (albumin paclitaxel, n = 20) and combination therapy (anlotinib plus albumin paclitaxel, n = 22). The clinical effect, serum tumor markers, progression-free survival, overall survival, immune function, quality of life, mental state, and toxic side effects were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The disease remission rate, disease control rate, CD3(+), CD4(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+) and Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score in combined therapy were higher than conventional therapy. After treatment, levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor, self-rating anxiety scale, and self-rating depression scale score were all lower in combination therapy compared to conventional therapy. In addition, there was no remarkable difference in adverse reactions between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Anlotinib combined with albumin-paclitaxel demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in stage IV NSCLC, reducing depression, anxiety, and tumor biomarker levels, while enhancing immune function, prolonging survival, and improving quality of life.