[Clinical effect analysis of sintilimab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma].

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of sintilimab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Methods: A prospective case series study was conducted, selecting 66 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma from Dayao County admitted to the People's Hospital of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture from January 2014 to November 2023. The patients were divided into three groups: chemotherapy group, chemotherapy+sintilimab group, and chemotherapy+bevacizumab group, with 22 cases in each group. After 4 cycles of treatment, the clinical efficacy (objective response rate) , tumor markers (carbohydrate antigen 125) , pleural thickness, and adverse drug reactions were evaluated. Follow-up was continued until February 29, 2024. The progression free survival was recorded. Categorical data were compared between groups using chi-square test, and continuous data were analyzed using analysis of variance. Results: The objective response rates in the chemotherapy+sintilimab group (59.09%, 13/22) and chemotherapy+bevacizumab group (63.64%, 14/22) were significantly higher than those in the chemotherapy group (27.27%, 6/22) (P<0.05) . The progressions free survival in the chemotherapy+sintilimab group and chemotherapy+bevacizumab group [ (232.27±82.52) d, (240.68±70.02) d] was significantly longer than that in the chemotherapy group[ (149.59±67.59) d] (P<0.05) . The differences in carbohydrate antigen 125 levels before and after treatment were higher in the chemotherapy+sintilimab group and chemotherapy+bevacizumab group compared to the chemotherapy group (P<0.05) . After 4 cycles of treatment, the maximum pleural thickness and the sum of the maximum pleural thickness in the three areas of the chest cavity were significantly smaller in the chemotherapy+bevacizumab group compared to the chemotherapy group (P<0.05) . There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of adverse reactions among the three groups (P>0.05) . Conclusion: Chemotherapy+sintilimab and chemotherapy+bevacizumab are more effective than chemotherapy alone in treating malignant pleural mesothelioma, and can prolong the progression free survival of patients.