Risk Factors of Severe Neutropenia Induced by Ramucirumab plus Paclitaxel Combination Therapy

Ramucirumab (RAM) is a monoclonal antibody of human vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2). In Japan, it is indicated for combination therapy with paclitaxel (PTX) for advanced/recurrent gastric cancer that cannot be curatively resected. However, the development of severe neutropenia due to RAM administration is considered to be one of the major side effects. Therefore, the principal aims of the present study were to examine whether the risk of neutropenia increases due to RAM + PTX combination therapy compared with PTX monotherapy in Japanese patients with gastric cancer and to elucidate the risk factors of neutropenia due to RAM + PTX combination therapy.