Efficacy and safety of apatinib in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective multi-center study

Apatinib is a novel antiangiogenic agent that targets vascular endothelial growth factor 2. The aim of our study was to explore the efficacy and safety of apatinib in the treatment of patients with recurrence or metastasis (R/M) inoperable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This multi-center retrospective study analyzed 53 cases of recurrent or metastatic inoperable HNSCC who had progressed or recurred after undergoing standard radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy treated with apatinib from March 2017 to August 2021. Patients continued apatinib until the time of disease progression or onset of intolerable adverse events. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR) and incidence of adverse events. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to determine prognostic factors. The main adverse events were counted, and the severity of the adverse reactions was evaluated. Fifty-three patients with recurrent or metastatic inoperable R/M HNSCC who had progressed or recurred after standard radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy were included. The ORR was 15.1%, and the DCR was 86.8%. The median PFS was 4.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.7–5.0 months) and the median OS was 6.6 months (95% CI 5.3–7.9 months). The number of apatinib lines was an influencing factor for both PFS and OS, and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score, tumor differentiation, and apatinib duration were only the influencing factors for OS. Of these, only the ECOG score was an independent predictor of OS. The most common adverse reactions were hypertension (39.6%), hand-foot syndrome (32.1%), fatigue (32.1%), oral ulcers (28.3%), and nausea and vomiting (20.8%). Most adverse reactions were grade 1 or 2. Apatinib mesylate has good efficacy for recurrent/metastatic inoperable HNSCC as second-line and above-line treatment. ECOG score was an independent prognostic factors of OS in patients who were treated with apatinib. In addition, the adverse effects of apatinib mesylate were relatively mild.