Phase 2 study of camrelizumab plus apatinib for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with antiangiogenic therapy may have synergistic antitumor activity. A phase 2 study in China evaluated the combination of camrelizumab and apatinib for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC) after at least one line of systemic therapy. The combination had antitumor activity, with objective response rate 65.5% and disease control rate 86.2%. With median follow-up duration of 12.4 months, the median duration of response was not reached, and the median progression-free survival was 10.4 months. Grade 3 or higher TRAEs were reported for 58.6% of patients, leading to discontinuation of apatinib before progression in 27.6%. Nasopharyngeal necrosis was the most common complication among discontinuing patients. The authors conclude that the combination of camrelizumab and apatinib had promising antitumor activity in patients with R/M NPC after failure of first-line therapy.