Use of apatinib combined with pemetrexed for advanced ovarian cancer: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian cancer is the most deadly gynecologic cancer, and the therapy is very difficult. Apatinib is a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. At present, there are few studies or case reports on apatinib treatment for patients with ovarian cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: A 75-year-old Chinese woman had a medical history of ovarian high-grade serous papillary adenocarcinoma, who got many lines of chemotherapy and apatinib—an antiangiogenesis drug therapy. Either alone or in combination, apatinib may extend the survival time of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. CONCLUSION: Apatinib may be an option for advanced ovarian cancer after failure of chemotherapy or other targeted therapy. The role of apatinib in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer needs further study.