The clinical efficacy of argon-helium knife cryoablation combined with nivolumab in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer

To investigate the clinical safety and efficacy of argon-helium knife cryoablation combined with nivolumab in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 64 patients with advanced NSCLC were retrospectively reviewed. From July 2019 to December 2019, all patients received argon-helium knife cryoablation combined with nivolumab (cryo-nivolumab group, n = 32) or cryoablation alone (cryoablation group, n = 32) at Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital. Short-term efficacy, adverse effects, immune function, tumor markers cytokeratin 21-1 (CYFRA21-1), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) levels were compared between the two groups. Baseline characteristics were balanced between the two groups. All adverse effects were manageable and no significant difference was noted between the two groups (P > 0.05). Patients in cryo-nivolumab group had a significant improvement in immune function and short-term efficacy (P < 0.05). The levels of CTCs and tumor markers CYFRA21-1 and NSE in cryo-nivolumab group were reduced significantly (P < 0.05). Argon-helium knife cryoablation combined with nivolumab was well tolerated and safe and was superior to cryoablation alone in improving clinical efficacy in patients with advanced NSCLC.