Single-center phase 2 study of anlotinib plus irinotecan as second-line therapy for ES-SCLC relapsed within six months

A phase 2 trial at Hangzhou Cancer Hospital (Hangzhou, China) evaluated the combination of anlotinib and irinotecan among patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer with relapse within 6 months after first-line therapy. The ORR was 62.6% and the DCR was 91.9%, whereas median PFS and OS were 4.5 months and 7.2 months, respectively, with longer PFS and OS in patients with later relapse after first-line therapy. Only 8.5% had grade 3 adverse effects. The authors conclude that the combination of anlotinib and irinotecan is an effective and well-tolerated second-line therapy for ES-SCLC with relapse within 6 months of first-line therapy.