Predictive Factors of Side Effects Leading to the Discontinuation of Docetaxel Plus Ramucirumab Therapy in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Exploratory Study

Docetaxel (DTX) plus ramucirumab (RAM) therapy is an important option for second-line or later treatment in the treatment of advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer; however, there are several cases of side effects leading to the discontinuation of treatment. In this study, we divided patients with non-small cell lung cancer who received DTX + RAM therapy into two groups: those who discontinued treatment due to side effects (side effect discontinuation group) and those who continued treatment until tumor progression without discontinuation due to side effects (non-side effect discontinuation group). The risk factors for side effects leading to the discontinuation of treatment were analyzed. Out of the 70 patients, 37 (52.9％) discontinued treatment due to side effects; the most common side effects leading to discontinuation were fatigue in 18 cases (48.6％) and loss of appetite in nine cases (24.3％). Regarding side effects leading to the discontinuation of treatment, we performed a multivariate analysis using factors with a P < 0.05 in univariate analysis as explanatory variables and found that age (≥71 years) and serum albumin level (ALB) before the start of the treatment (<3.7 g/dL) were independent risk factors. The study results suggest that age and ALB were significant predictors of adverse events leading to the discontinuation in DTX + RAM therapy.