Low-Dose Apatinib Improves the Prognosis of Patients with Recurrent High-Grade Gliomas

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and prognostic value of low-dose apatinib in combination with temozolomide in the treatment of primary or recurrent high-grade gliomas (HGGs). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients with postoperative and recurrent HGGs treated in our hospital from April 1, 2018, to April 30, 2020. Patients should be treated by combination therapy (surgery + radiotherapy + chemotherapy). Patients who received apatinib combined with temozolomide chemotherapy were allocated to the research group (RG), while patients who received temozolomide chemotherapy alone were allocated to the control group (CG). The efficacy and toxic side effects were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were 67 qualified patients retrieved, including 37 cases in the RG and 30 cases in the CG. There were no significant differences in objective remission rate (ORR) or disease control rate (DCR) between the control group and the study group (P > 0.05). However, the overall improvement of clinical efficacy in the observation group was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse effects between the two groups (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Low-dose apatinib combined with temozolomide and radiotherapy for HGGs is effective in improving efficacy, relieving brain edema, reducing the use of glucocorticoid drugs, and improving patients' quality of life. It has mild adverse effects and is well tolerated by patients.