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.
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 2.
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 3.
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 4.
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 5.
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.

Tables

Table 1. Characteristics of 60 AGC Patients
 
Characteristicsn%
AGC: advanced gastric cancer; ECOG PS: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status; SOX: S-1 and oxaliplatin.
Gender
  Male3660.0
  Female2440.0
Median age64.6 ± 8.3 years (range: 30 - 82)
Age (years)
  ≤ 653253.3
  > 652846.7
ECOG PS
  04575.0
  11016.7
  258.3
Primary lesion
  Gastric4371.7
  Gastroesophageal junction1728.3
Histology, n (%)
  Intestinal type2541.7
  Diffuse type915.0
  Mixed1423.3
  Unknown1220.0
Metastatic sites, n
  ≤ 23253.3
  > 22846.7
Surgery of tumor
  No2236.7
  Yes3863.3
Initial dosage of apatinib (mg)
  5002440
  2503660
first-line chemotherapy regimen
  SOX4066.7
  Docetaxel plus S-1915
  Fluoropyrimidine-oxaliplatin combination1118.3

 

Table 2. Incidence of AEs During the Treatment
 
AEsGrade 1 or 2 (n)Grade 3 or 4 (n)Rate (%)
AEs: adverse events.
Hematologic
  Leukopenia27350.0
  Anemia6010.0
  Thrombocytopenia11018.3
Nonhematologic
  Fatigue27450.7
  Hypertension27248.3
  Proteinuria7113.3
  Hand-foot syndrome13123.3
  Diarrhea6010.0