Apatinib for Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer After Second/Third Line Chemotherapy.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive disease characterized by its rapid doubling time, high growth fraction, early development of disseminated disease, and dramatic response to first-line chemotherapy and radiation. Small cell lung cancer accounts for approximately 20%-25% lung cancer patients. SCLC patients are categorized as limited disease, defined as disease that is confined to the ipsilateral hemithorax that can be encompassed within a tolerable radiation port, or extensive disease (ED), defined as the presence of overt metastatic disease determined by imaging or physical examination. Two third of patients are diagnosed with ED at presentation. Despite the development of novel cytotoxic drugs, the therapeutic approach to SCLC has been stagnant for more than twenty years. Standard treatment for ED-SCLC remains EP or CE, a regimen that yield a median survival of approximately 9 months and a 5-year survival of less than 1%.In some guidelines for SCLC, topotecan is recommended as the standard second-line treatment in patients who relapse less than 3 months. As for patients who relapse more than six months after the end of initial treatment, EP or CE regimen is recommended to be used again.There is no standard treatment recommendation for this group of patients who failed to second-line therapy.Apatinib has been approved as a second-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer. Several phase III clinical studies of non small cell lung cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer and other tumors also showed apatinib has less toxic side effects and better patient tolerance.And this clinical trial is designed to prospectively investigate the efficacy and safety of apatinib in refractory or recurrent ED-SCLC patients.

Inclusion criteria

Histologic or cytologic diagnosis of small cell lung caner(SCLC), Extensive Stage.

Previous treatments including first-line therapy with EP or CE and second-line therapy with topotecan; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0-2; Males or females between 18 Years to 75 Years. Expected survival is above three months. At least one measurable lung tumor lesion (according to RECIST criteria, the application of conventional technology, diameter length of the lesion >= 20mm or spiral CT >=10mm).

Adequate hematologic (Leukocyte count >= 4.0×109/L, neutrophil count>=2.0×109/L, hemoglobin>=95g/L, platelets>=100×109/L), hepatic function (aspartate transaminase (AST) & alanine transaminase(ALT) =<upper normal limit(UNL) x1.5, bilirubin level =< UNL x 1.5).

Patient can take oral medicine. Patients have the ability to understand and voluntarily sign the informed consent, and allow adequate follow-up.

Exclusion criteria

History of cardiovascular disease: congestive heart failure (CHF) > New York Heart Association (NYHA) II, active coronary artery disease(patients with myocardial infarction six months ago can be recruited), arrhythmias need to be treated (allow taking beta blockers or digoxin).

Serious clinical infection (> NCI-CTCAE version 4.0 ,infection standard II). Patients with epilepsy who need to take medicine (such as steroids or anti epilepsy agents).

The patients had accepted allogeneic organ transplantation. Bleeding tendency or coagulation disorders. Patients who need renal dialysis. Suffered from other tumor within 5 years( Except: cervical carcinoma in situ, cured basal cell carcinoma, cured bladder epithelial tumor).

Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic pressure>150 mmHg , or diastolic pressure> 90 mmHg).

Thrombosis or embolism(cerebrovascular accidents including transient ischemic attack within the last 6 months).

Pulmonary hemorrhage >CTCAE grade 2 within 4 weeks before first use of drugs. Other organ hemorrhage >CTCAE grade 3 within 4 weeks before first use of drugs. severe uncured wounds, ulcers or fracture. uncured dehydration. Factors influencing the safety and compliance of patients. Inability to comply with protocol or study procedures. Pregnant or breast-feeding. The researcher believe that the Patient is not suitable to participate in the study.