Efficacy of mannatide combined with sodium cantharidate vitamin B6 in the treatment of malignant pleural effusions.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of mannatide combined with sodium cantharidate vitamin B6 in the treatment of malignant pleural effusions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data for 69 patients with malignant pleural effusions who did not receive systemic chemotherapy were collected. Injection into the thorax using mannatide combined with sodium cantharidate vitamin B6 was performed for 37 patients in the experimental group and mannatide combined with cisplatin for 32 patients in the control group. Objective responses, KPS (Karnofsky Scoring) and incidences of side effects between the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

13 patients reached CR (complete response) and 11 PR (partial response) in the experimental group, while 12 patients reached CR and 9 PR in the control group, the difference in overall objective responses between the two groups not being significant (66.7% vs 63.6%, p=0.806). However, improvement of KPS in the experimental group was greater than in the control group; total side-effect incidences during the period of treatment were 22.2% (8/36) and 54.5% (18/33), respectively (p=0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Regimen of mannatide combined with sodium cantharidate vitamin B6 had better improvement in quality-of-life and symptom relief, with a lower side-effect incidence in treatment of malignant pleural effusions.