The efficacy and safety of VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A meta-analysis

Molecular targeted therapies against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor (VEGFR) have been explored in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rmNPC). We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors for treating rmNPC. Electronic databases were searched for eligible literature. Data on the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), median progression-free survival (mPFS), median overall survival (mOS), PFS rate, OS rate, and drug-related adverse events (AEs) were extracted. A total of 10 studies (published in 9 articles) that involved 357 patients were included. The pooled ORR was 37 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 17–60 %), the DCR was 70 % (95 % CI: 51–85 %), the mPFS was 5.69 months (95 % CI: 4.52–6.86), the mOS was 12.61 months (95 % CI: 10.23–14.99), the 1-year PFS rate was 34 % (95 % CI: 25–44 %), and the 1-year OS rate was 62 % (95 % CI: 38–83 %). The pooled incidence of grade 3/4 drug-related AEs was 27 %, while that of grade 5 AEs was 0.22 %. Further subgroup analysis showed that the pooled ORR and DCR for first-line VEGF inhibitors were 80 % (95 % CI: 74–86 %) and 94 % (CI: 82–100 %), respectively. Our meta-analysis is the first report to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors in patients with rmNPC. Targeting VEGF/VEGFR therapy added to first-line chemotherapy achieved an excellent ORR and DCR, while the improvement in response rates did not translate to a prominent OS benefit.