World Journal of Oncology, ISSN 1920-4531 print, 1920-454X online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, World J Oncol and Elmer Press Inc
Journal website https://wjon.elmerpub.com

Original Article

Volume 16, Number 6, December 2025, pages 546-554

Reduced Peripheral Blood Natural Killer Cell Proportion Predicts Poor Overall Survival in Advanced Gastric Cancer Patients Treated With Apatinib

Figures

↓  Figure 1. Kaplan-Meier estimates of PFS and OS. (a) PFS for the overall population and the median PFS was 175.8 ± 12.6 days (95% CI: 151.1 - 200.5). (b) OS for the overall population and the median OS was 280.4 ± 18.8 days (95% CI: 243.5 - 317.2). CI: confidence interval; OS: overall survival; PFS: progression-free survival.
Figure 1.
↓  Figure 2. (a) ROC curve of NK cell proportion. (b) NK cell proportion in the PB of responders. (c) NK cell proportion in the PB of non-responders. NK: natural killer; PB: peripheral blood; ROC: receiver operating characteristic.
Figure 2.
↓  Figure 3. (a) High and low NK cell proportion on PFS in AGC patients. (b) High and low NK cell proportion on OS in AGC patients. AGC: advanced gastric cancer; NK: natural killer; OS: overall survival; PFS: progression-free survival.
Figure 3.
↓  Figure 4. (a) ROC curve of CD8+ T-cell proportion. (b) CD8+ T proportion in the PB of responders. (c) CD8+ T proportion in the PB of non-responders. PB: peripheral blood; ROC: receiver operating characteristic.
Figure 4.
↓  Figure 5. (a) PFS according to CD8+ T-cell proportion in AGC patients. (b) OS according to CD8+ T-cell proportion in AGC patients. AGC: advanced gastric cancer; OS: overall survival; PFS: progression-free survival.
Figure 5.

Tables

↓  Table 1. Characteristics of 60 AGC Patients
 
Characteristics n %
AGC: advanced gastric cancer; ECOG PS: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status; SOX: S-1 and oxaliplatin.
Gender
  Male 36 60.0
  Female 24 40.0
Median age 64.6 ± 8.3 years (range: 30 - 82)
Age (years)
  ≤ 65 32 53.3
  > 65 28 46.7
ECOG PS
  0 45 75.0
  1 10 16.7
  2 5 8.3
Primary lesion
  Gastric 43 71.7
  Gastroesophageal junction 17 28.3
Histology, n (%)
  Intestinal type 25 41.7
  Diffuse type 9 15.0
  Mixed 14 23.3
  Unknown 12 20.0
Metastatic sites, n
  ≤ 2 32 53.3
  > 2 28 46.7
Surgery of tumor
  No 22 36.7
  Yes 38 63.3
Initial dosage of apatinib (mg)
  500 24 40
  250 36 60
first-line chemotherapy regimen
  SOX 40 66.7
  Docetaxel plus S-1 9 15
  Fluoropyrimidine-oxaliplatin combination 11 18.3

 

↓  Table 2. Incidence of AEs During the Treatment
 
AEs Grade 1 or 2 (n) Grade 3 or 4 (n) Rate (%)
AEs: adverse events.
Hematologic
  Leukopenia 27 3 50.0
  Anemia 6 0 10.0
  Thrombocytopenia 11 0 18.3
Nonhematologic
  Fatigue 27 4 50.7
  Hypertension 27 2 48.3
  Proteinuria 7 1 13.3
  Hand-foot syndrome 13 1 23.3
  Diarrhea 6 0 10.0