Anlotinib plus docetaxel vs. docetaxel alone for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients who failed first-line treatment: A multicenter, randomized phase II trial

Objectives Given the modest efficacy of docetaxel in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), this study assesses the therapeutic potential and safety profile of anlotinib in combination with docetaxel compared to docetaxel monotherapy as a second-line therapy for patients with advanced NSCLC. Materials and Methods In this phase II study, patients with advanced NSCLC experiencing failure with first-line platinum-based regimens were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either anlotinib plus docetaxel or docetaxel alone. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), with overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety as secondary endpoints. Results A total of 83 patients were randomized. The combination of anlotinib and docetaxel significantly extended median PFS to 4.4 months compared to 1.6 months for docetaxel alone (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.38, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.23–0.63, P = 0.0002), and also demonstrated superior ORR (32.5 % vs. 9.3 %, P = 0.0089) and DCR (87.5 % vs. 53.5 %, P = 0.0007). Median OS was observed at 12.0 months in the combination group versus 10.9 months in the monotherapy group (HR = 0.82, 95 % CI: 0.47–1.43, P = 0.4803). For patients previously treated with immunotherapy, the median PFS was notably longer at 7.8 versus 1.7 months (HR = 0.22, 95 % CI: 0.09–0.51, P = 0.0290). The incidence of grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events, predominantly leukopenia (15.0 % vs. 7.0 %) and neutropenia (10.0 % vs. 5.0 %), was manageable across both groups. Conclusion Anlotinib plus docetaxel offers a viable therapeutic alternative for patients with advanced NSCLC who failed first-line platinum-based treatments.