Anlotinib Monotherapy in Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Multicenter Case-Series Analysis

Anlotinib in NPC

Abstract

Background: Anlotinib has shown encouraging therapeutic effect on various solid tumors. The effect of anlotinib in the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma remains unclear. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of anlotinib monotherapy in rmNPC patients.

Methods: We retrospectively recruited 30 patients with rmNPC, most following at least one previous line of systemic therapy. Patients underwent anlotinib monotherapy (12 or 10 mg/day). The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). The secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. 

Results: Thirteen patients (43.3%) had metastatic NPC, 10 (33.3%) had recurrent NPC, and 7 (23.3%) had both. Twenty-two patients (73.3%) were platinum-refractory, and 23 (76.7%) received at least three anlotinib cycles. The best overall response was observed in four patients with partial response, stable disease in 18, and progressive disease in eight. The ORR was 13.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4–26.2%) and disease control rate was 73.3% (95% CI, 56.5–90.1%). The median OS and PFS were 11.5 (95% CI, 7.5–15.5) and 5.7 (95% CI, 4.7–6.7) months, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that liver metastases (hazard ratio, 7.907; 95% CI, 2.613–23.923, P < 0.001) significantly affected the PFS. The relatively common ≥ Grade 3 adverse reactions were hand-foot syndrome (13.3%) and oral mucositis (13.3%). Conclusion: Anlotinib monotherapy demonstrated positive efficacy in patients with rmNPC. It was well tolerated by these patients and had limited toxicity.