Endostar combined with docetaxel or cisplatin in the management of malignant ascites through hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: A retrospective cohort study

Peritoneal metastases (PM) are a prevalent and treatment-resistant form of recurrence in patients with abdominal tumors. The present study retrospectively examined the clinical performance and potential adverse effects of combining Endostar with docetaxel/cisplatin chemotherapeutic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for treating malignant ascites (MA). Subjects diagnosed with malignancies confirmed by ascites cell block results and clinical presentations were included within the study, constituting a total of 48 MA cases. The docetaxel group (n=25) was treated with Endostar combined with docetaxel for two cycles. The cisplatin group (n=23) was treated with Endostar combined with cisplatin for two cycles. The objective response rate (ORR; defined as CR + PR), disease control rate (DCR; defined as CR + PR + SD), ascites control time, improvement rate of the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) and incidence of major adverse reactions were statistically analyzed. There were no significant differences in the ORR (64.0 vs. 56.5%), DCR (92.0 vs. 91.3%), improvement rate of KPS (48.0 vs. 43.5%) or ascites control time (55 vs. 46 days) between the docetaxel and cisplatin groups (all P>0.05). Renal function impairment developed in 7 patients (30.4%) in the cisplatin group compared with 1 patient (4.0%) in the docetaxel group (P<0.05). Except for renal injury and blood pressure, there were no statistically significant differences in the incidences of other adverse reactions or treatment-related deaths between the two groups. Overall, the combined application of Endostar and docetaxel/cisplatin HIPEC yielded promising clinical outcomes in the treatment of MA, as indicated by high ORRs and DCRs, significantly improving the quality of life for affected individuals. However, it is worth noting that the incidence of nephrotoxicity was higher in the cisplatin treatment group compared with that in the docetaxel treatment group. Therefore, clinicians should be cautious about nephrotoxicity when administering cisplatin in high-risk patients with PM.