Apatinib for chemotherapy-refractory extensive-stage SCLC: a retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Research

Background:

• Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) lacks standard treatment options after multiple chemotherapy failures.
• Identifying effective salvage therapies is crucial for improving outcomes in these patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of apatinib in patients with extensive-stage SCLC.
• To assess apatinib's role as a treatment option after failure of two or more prior chemotherapeutic regimens.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 22 extensive-stage SCLC patients received oral apatinib (500 mg daily).
• Treatment continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
• Efficacy was assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), and safety by National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria for adverse events (AEs).

Main Results:

• The median progression-free survival was 135.0 days.
• The disease control rate (DCR) was 86.4% (partial response 18.2%, stable disease 68.2%).
• Common adverse events included hand-foot syndrome, hypertension, and fatigue; grade 3/4 toxicities were primarily hypertension and hand-foot syndrome.

Conclusions:

• Apatinib demonstrated modest activity in heavily pretreated extensive-stage SCLC patients.
• The drug exhibited an acceptable toxicity profile in this population.
• Apatinib represents a potential treatment option for patients with refractory extensive-stage SCLC.