Abstract:Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of combining Nimotuzumab and apatinib for the treatment of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Methods A total of 72 patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, who were admitted to the hospital between July 2021 and June 2023, were selected. They were assigned to either the observation group or the control group using the odd-even number method, with 36 patients in each group. The control group received Apatinib combined with TP chemotherapy, while the observation group received treatment with Nimotuzumab in addition to the control group. After 3 cycles of treatment, compare the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), squamous cell carcinoma associated antigen (SCC Ag), thymic kinase 1 (TK1), and cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (CYFRA21-1), adverse reactions, 1-year overall survival (OS), and progression free survival (PFS) between the two groups. Results The observation group showed higher ORR and DCR compared to the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the SCC Ag levels in the observation group and control group were (1.12 ± 0.16), (1.37 ± 0.25), TK1 levels were (1.65 ± 0.21), (1.95 ± 0.18), and CYFRA21-1 levels were (5.46 ± 0.75), (7.02 ± 0.91), respectively, and the observation group was lower than the control group (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the incidence of leukopenia, erythropenia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, transaminase elevation, creatinine elevation, electrolyte imbalance, nausea/vomiting, constipation, hypoalbuminemia, skin and mucosal allergies, and peripheral nerve disorders between the two groups (P>0.05). There were 3 deaths in the observation group, with a 1-year OS of 91.43% and a 1-year PFS of 71.43%. There were 5 deaths in the control group, with a 1-year OS of 78.79% and a 1-year PFS of 57.58%. Both groups did not reach the median OS and median PFS, and the PFS curve of the observation group was superior to that of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion The combination of Nimotuzumab and Apatinib in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients can help improve ORR DCR, Extended PFS, with good efficacy and safety.