Apatinib plus Chemotherapy as a Second-Line Treatment in Unresectable Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma: A Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter Clinical Trial

Zongyang Yu, Xiuyu Cai, Zhengwu Xu, Zhiyong He, Jinhuo Lai, Wenwu Wang, Jing Zhang, Wencui Kong, Xiaoyan Huang, Ying Chen, Yanhong Shi, Xi Shi, Zhongquan Zhao, Min Ni, Xiangwu Lin, Siyu Chen, Xiaolong Wu, Wujin Chen, Zhengbo Song, Cheng Huang, Zongyang Yu, Xiuyu Cai, Zhengwu Xu, Zhiyong He, Jinhuo Lai, Wenwu Wang, Jing Zhang, Wencui Kong, Xiaoyan Huang, Ying Chen, Yanhong Shi, Xi Shi, Zhongquan Zhao, Min Ni, Xiangwu Lin, Siyu Chen, Xiaolong Wu, Wujin Chen, Zhengbo Song, Cheng Huang

Abstract

Lessons learned: The efficacy of second-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) without a sensitizing driver gene mutation is still unsatisfactory. The combination of apatinib and chemotherapy improved progression-free survival in the second-line therapy of advanced NSCLC without a sensitizing mutation. This study offers a new treatment strategy for second-line treatment of such patients but requires confirmation in a larger multi-institutional trial.

Background: This study explored the efficacy and safety of apatinib combined with single-agent chemotherapy versus single-agent chemotherapy in the second-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) without driver mutations.

Methods: In this double-arm, open label, exploratory clinical study, we enrolled patients with unresectable locally advanced or advanced NSCLC without driver mutations that had progressed following first-line chemotherapy. The subjects were allocated into an experimental group and a control group by 2:1. The experimental group received apatinib combined with four cycles of docetaxel or pemetrexed until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or discontinuation at the patient' request. The control group only received four cycles of docetaxel or pemetrexed. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), and safety.

Results: Thirty-seven patients were enrolled. The efficacy of 33 patients was evaluated. The median PFS was 5.47 versus 2.97 months, the DCR was 95% versus 73%, and the objective response rate (ORR) was 27% versus 9% in the experimental versus control group. The OS was still under follow-up. The most common adverse effects included hypertension, hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR), and fatigue.

Conclusion: Apatinib combined with single-agent chemotherapy may be a novel option for second-line treatment of advanced NSCLC.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03256721.

© AlphaMed Press; the data published online to support this summary are the property of the authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Waterfall plots of the largest percentage changes from the baseline in the sum of the longest tumor diameters for patients in the apatinib plus standard chemotherapy group and standard chemotherapy group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Kaplan‐Meier curves for progression‐free survival between the apatinib plus standard chemotherapy group and standard chemotherapy group. Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Research flow chart.

Source: PubMed

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