Rationale: Apatinib is a novel anti-angiogenic agent that targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, thereby inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, and is effective in the treatment of brain metastases (BM) and peritumoral brain edema (PTBE). There are no previous reports of combination therapy with apatinib and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) for BM from primary lung mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC).
Patient concerns: A 63-year-old man underwent left lower lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection in April 2018.
Diagnoses: Postoperative pathology demonstrated high-grade MEC. The patient developed 3 BM with PTBE 3 months after undergoing surgery.
Interventions: The patient received a combination of FSRT and apatinib (250-500 mg/d) as maintenance therapy.
Outcomes: The 3 BM showed nearly complete responses, and the PTBE areas shrank visibly. A new BM lesion occurred 7 months after the first FSRT and was treated with a second dose of FSRT. The patient developed extensive metastasis and atelectasis 9 months later. He died of pulmonary infection in December 2019. The overall survival time was 20 months.
Lessons: Limited BM from primary lung MEC may be treated effectively with combination therapy with apatinib and FSRT when chemotherapy alone is not effective or tolerated. Further studies are needed to investigate the clinical outcomes and toxicities associated with the treatment.