In a nutshell
This article looked at the effectiveness and safety of anlotinib (AL3818) for non-responsive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The authors found that anlotinib was an effective third-line or later line therapy for patients with unresponsive advanced NSCLC.
Some background
NSCLC accounts for 85% of lung cancers found worldwide. The main form of treatment is the surgical removal of tumors plus chemotherapy. Advanced NSCLC can be difficult to treat.
Anlotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). TKIs block enzymes that are responsible for many cellular functions in the body. Anlotinib works by stopping tumors from forming new blood vessels and spreading. Anlotinib has been used in clinical trials in order to treat advanced NSCLC. However, the effectiveness and safety of anlotinib in the treatment of unresponsive advanced NSCLC remain under investigation.
Methods & findings
This study looked at the results of 3 clinical trials. Overall, there were 594 patients from these trials included in this study. 374 patients received anlotinib. 220 patients received a placebo.
Patients treated with anlotinib had a 73% higher survival without disease progression compared to the placebo group. They also had a 32% improved overall survival chance compared to placebo.
Patients taking anlotinib were 11.62 times more likely to have a tumor response (tumor shrinkage) and 2.3 times more likely to have tumor control (tumor does not grow or spread) compared to placebo.
The most common side effects reported with anlotinib treatment were high blood pressure, tiredness, decreased thyroid function, decreased appetite, high cholesterol and blood fats, and diarrhea.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that anlotinib was an effective therapy for unresponsive advanced NSCLC.
The fine print
This article pooled data from different clinical trials with varying protocols. All of the studies analyzed were carried out in China which may not translate to a global population.
Published By :
PLOS ONE
Date :
Dec 01, 2020
