Apatinib monotherapy for pretreated advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the penis: a phase 2 trial

Treatment options for patients with advanced penile squamous cell carcinoma who have disease progression on systemic chemotherapy are scarce. Antiangiogenic drugs have shown antitumor effects in case series. This phase 2 trial evaluated the activity and safety of apatinib (a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) receptor inhibitor) in such patients.

This investigator-initiated, single-arm, phase 2 trial was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000021849) and performed at a tertiary cancer center in Shanghai, China. Eligible patients had histologically confirmed penile squamous cell carcinoma, were not candidates for surgery with curative intent, had measurable disease, had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2, pretreated with one or more kinds of systemic treatment. Patients were prescribed oral apatinib 500 mg daily with the option of dose reduction to manage adverse events. The primary endpoint was the investigator-assessed overall response rate (ORR) assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of study drug.

Between 2016 and 2023, we enrolled 23 patients, all of whom received at least one dose of study treatment. Of the 23 patients, 16 had an ECOG performance status of 2. Only 6 patients had human papillomavirus-positive tumors. Five patients had a partial response (ORR = 22% [95% CI, 10%-42%]). The median progression-free survival was 3.8 months, and median overall survival was 7.2 months. Treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or worse occurred in 7 (30%) of 23 patients. The most common grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events were hand-foot syndrome (13%), hypertension (9%), and increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (9%).

Apatinib in pretreated advanced penile cancer showed limited efficacy with a manageable safety profile.

UMIN000021849.