A case report of apatinib in treating osteosarcoma with pulmonary metastases.

RATIONALE

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. Pulmonary metastases lead to a significantly increased risk of death. Apatinib, a new potent oral small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting the intracellular domain of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), shows survival benefits in treating advanced or metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma, non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic breast cancer. However, its efficacy in metastatic osteosarcoma has not been reported yet.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Herein, we presented a 50-year-old man patient who visited hospital due to local bone pain in the left leg.

DIAGNOSES

He was initially diagnosed with osteoblastic osteosarcoma.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient suffered repeated resection surgeries but developed multiple lung metastases. Positive staining for CD31, CD34, and VEGFR-2 were detected in the tumor section. As he refused to receive chemotherapy due to concerns regarding the chemotherapy toxicities and sorafenib due to high cost, apatinib was given at a dose of 500 mg daily.

OUTCOMES

Eleven months following apatinib administration, the patient achieved a partial response according to the RECIST 1.1 standard. No severe toxicity or drug-related side effect was observed during the treatment.

LESSONS

Therefore, apatinib could be a new option for the treatment of metastatic osteosarcoma. Clinical trials are required to further confirm the efficacy and safety of apatinib in treating pulmonary metastases from osteosarcoma.