Outcomes of Anlotinib in Patients With Small Cell Lung Cancer and Liver Metastasis

Researchers set out to characterize survival outcomes in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated with anlotinib in the ALTER 1202 trial, including those with liver metastasis. After their post hoc analysis, the study’s primary investigator, Ying Cheng, and colleagues reported that anlotinib appeared to improve progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with SCLC compared to a placebo.

The phase II ALTER 1202 trial randomized 39 participants with SCLC and liver metastasis to receive either 12 mg per day of anlotinib (n = 27) or a placebo (n = 12). The primary measures compared were tumor response, PFS, and overall survival (OS).

Small Cell Lung Cancer Study Outcomes

In their report, published in Cancer Medicine, the authors stated that the objective response rates were 3.7% and 0% for the anlotinib and placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.9999). Additionally, a higher disease control rate was seen in the anlotinib group (44.4%) compared to the placebo group (8.3%; p = 0.0173).

Anlotinib was also favored versus placebo in median PFS at 1.51 months versus 0.71 months (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.365; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17–0.78), and had no marked difference in median OS (3.29 vs. 1.91 months; HR = 0.51, 95% CI, 0.22–1.16; p = 0.0996). Finally, the most common adverse events in the anlotinib group were hypertension (40.7%), fatigue (29.6%), loss of appetite (22.2%), and weight loss (22.2%)—with no grade V events reported.

Anlotinib Conclusions

In closing, the authors felt their findings support that “anlotinib is effective and tolerated in patients with SCLC and liver metastasis,” and represents a potential third-line and later treatment option in SCLC, even when presenting with liver metastasis.