Targeted Therapy with Anlotinib for a Patient with an Oncogenic FGFR3-TACC3 Fusion and Recurrent Glioblastoma

Oncologist. 2021 Mar;26(3):173-177. doi: 10.1002/onco.13530. Epub 2020 Oct 3.

Abstract

We describe a case of recurrent glioblastoma treated with anlotinib in this report. The patient was administered anlotinib 12 mg p.o. once every day (days 1-14, with a 21-day cycle) (anlotinib clinical study NCT04004975) and oral temozolomide chemotherapy 100 mg/m2 (days 1-7, days 15-21, 28-day cycle; 12 cycles). After 2 months of therapy, the patient achieved a partial response that has been maintained for >17 months of follow-up. Molecular characterization confirmed the presence of a TERT promoter mutation, wild-type IDH1/2, an FGFR3-TACC3 fusion, and FGFR3 amplification in the patient. Anlotinib is a multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitor that was originally designed to inhibit VEGFR2/3, FGFR1-4, PDGFRα/β, and c-Kit. Patients with TERT promoter mutations and high-grade IDH-wild-type glioma have shorter overall survival than patients with IDH-wild-type glioma without TERT promoter mutations. However, this patient had a favorable clinic outcome, and FGFR3-TACC3 fusion may be a new marker for treatment of glioma with anlotinib. KEY POINTS: This case study is believed to be the first report that FGFR3-TACC3 fusion could be a novel indication to treat recurrent glioblastoma with the drug anlotinib. This case exhibited an exceptional response (maintained partial response >17 months) after 2-month combined therapy of anlotinib and oral temozolomide chemotherapy. This case also underscores the importance of molecular diagnosis for clinically complex cases. Tumor tissue-based assessment of molecular biomarkers in brain tumors has been successfully translated into clinical application.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Glioblastoma* / drug therapy
  • Glioblastoma* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Indoles
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / genetics
  • Quinolines*
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3

Substances

  • Indoles
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Quinolines
  • TACC3 protein, human
  • anlotinib
  • FGFR3 protein, human
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3