Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of hypothyroidism in patients with malignant tumors who were treated with apatinib, and to evaluate risk factors and correlation between apatinib’s therapeutic effect and hypothyroidism. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinical data of 43 advanced cancer patients who were treated with apatinib at the Department of Medical Oncology of the Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University between June 2016 and October 2017. The relation between apatinib treatment and the development of hypothyroidism was analyzed. Risk factors and correlations between therapeutic effect and hypothyroidism were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty (70%) of 43 patients treated with apatinib developed hypothyroidism within a median duration of 27 days. The severity of hypothyroidism was directly correlated with the duration of apatinib administration, and thyroid function was restored upon stopping apatinib treatment. Furthermore, the risk of hypothyroidism was found not to be associated with sex or age. However, there was a positive correlation between the severity of hypothyroidism and the therapeutic effect in cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Development of hypothyroidism is associated with higher tumor response in cancer patients. Hence, it is of clinical significance to continue apatinib while managing hypothyroidism. (Am J Transl Med 2019. 3:59-66)