The efficacy and safety of low-dose Apatinib in the management of stage IV luminal-type breast cancer: a case report and literature review

Lv, Xingxing; Chen, Juan; Yi, Tingwu; Lu, Hong; Liu, Juan; Yu, Danfei

Advanced breast cancer (ABC) is incurable. Previous studies have shown that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors play a significant role in the angiogenesis of breast carcinoma. Apatinib, a highly selective orally administered small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) has successfully been used as a second- and third-line agent in the management of ABC. There are also multiple reported cases where Apatinib was miraculously effective in the management of triple-negative and HER2-positive tumors. However, case reports of its effectiveness against luminal-type tumors are rare. Here, we report the case of a 34-year-old woman with hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative ABC who was successfully treated with low-dose Apatinib. Owing to necrosis of the center of the tumor due to the effective anticancer effect of Apatinib, a large cavity formed rapidly in the primary lesion; thus, the quality of life of the patient was seriously affected. This report aims to caution physicians about this unique phenomenon when using Apatinib in clinical practice.