Advanced alveolar soft part sarcoma responds to apatinib.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare, hypervascular soft tissue sarcoma with a low chemotherapy response rate. Here, we report an ASPS case with multiple lung metastases on initial presentation. The primary tumor, a hypervascular soft tissue mass 4.1×3.2×2.0 cm, located in the right thigh, was resected prior to chemotherapy. The patient suffered disease progression after two cycles of gemcitabine-docetaxel treatment. Immunohistochemical examination of the tumor tissue revealed strong positive staining for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). The patient was subsequently treated with apatinib (500 mg/day), a specific VEGFR-2 inhibitor. Treatment was well tolerated, and the patient exhibited a partial response, with the lung metastases reduced in size and number after one month of therapy. To date, 12-month progression-free survival has been achieved. Apatinib may provide an additional treatment option for metastatic ASPS, particularly in cases resistant to other chemotherapeutic options. Furtherstudies with more cases with longer follow-up times will be necessary to determine the clinical efficacy of apatinib for treatment of ASPS.

INTRODUCTION

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) was first classified by Christopherson, et al. in 1952 [1]. ASPS is a clinically and morphologically unique soft tissue sarcoma that accounts for 0.5-1% of all soft tissue sarcomas, and occurs primarily in teenagers and young adults under 40 years of age [2]. The main ASPS sites are the lower extremities and trunk, and the head and neck, particularly the orbit and tongue [3-5]. ASPS is slow growing and painless and, due to a relative lack of associated symptoms, metastases to the lungs, brain, and liver are common at diagnosis [2, 6]. For early-stage localized ASPS, wide surgical resection is the primary treatment [7]. Local relapse after complete resection is unusual; however, metastases can occur, even decades after primary tumor resection, despite the absence of local recurrence [8]. Although ASPS progression tends to be slow, poor prognosis and resistance to conventional chemotherapeutics pose treatment challenges [9, 10].

Apatinib is a novel receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor that selectively competes for the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) ATP binding site, blocking downstream signaling and inhibiting tumor angiogenesis [11, 12]. The drug was approved by the China Food and Drug Administration in December 2014 for treatment of metastatic gastric cancer patients. Apatinib can improve progression-free survival, and consequently overall survival, in advanced gastric cancer patients [13]. Apatinib could potentially augment therapeutic options in a variety of sarcomas, including angiosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and myxoid/round cell liposarcoma [14-16].

Here, we describe an advanced ASPS case with multiple lung metastases, disease progression after conventional chemotherapy, and subsequent near-complete response to apatinib treatment. We also review the literature and compare the clinical efficacy of apatinib with that of other antiangiogenic therapeutics used to target ASPS. Finally, we discuss the possible mechanisms underlying the ASPS response to apatinib.

CASE PRESENTATION

This case report was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the West China Hospital, and written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images.

In March 2015, an 18-year-old male was admitted to the respiratory department of our hospital with a primary complaint of chest tightness. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed multiple pulmonary nodules likely representing metastatic disease (Figure 1). A positron emission tomography (PET) scan to identify the primary tumor revealed a soft tissue mass in the upper right thigh, with a maximum SUV score of 2.6 (Figure 2). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the thigh revealed a hypervascular soft tissue mass of 4.1 × 3.2 × 2.0 cm (Figure 2). Color Doppler ultrasound of the affected leg confirmed the MRI findings. A mass was of volume, 4.5 × 3.6 × 2.0 cm, was found between the skin and fascia during the extended resection procedure. Pathological examination confirmed ASPS, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) demonstrated that tumor cell nuclei were strongly TEF-3 positive (Figure 3).

Figure 1

A March 2015 chest CT revealed multiple pulmonary nodules likely representing metastatic disease

Figure 2

MRI and PET scans

A soft tissue is shown in the upper right thigh, with long T1 and T2 signals (a-c). PET scan showing a soft tissue mass with a maximum SUV score of 2.6 (d).

Figure 3

Pathological images of the tumor

H&E staining x200) showing solid nests of neoplastic cells separated by delicate fibrovascular septa proliferating in the endometrium (a). IHC staining showing TFE3 positive tumor cell nuclei (b). IHC staining showing strong VEGF (antibody diluted 1:100) (c) and VEGF-2 positivity (antibody diluted 1:200) (d).

The patient began to receive gemcitabine-docetaxel chemotherapy two weeks after surgery. Gemcitabine was administered at a fixed dose rate of 900 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for 90 min on d 1 and 8, with docetaxel (100 mg/m2) administered intravenously for 60 min every 21 d from d 8. In May 2015, after two chemotherapy cycles, chest CT revealed disease progression with additional and larger lung nodules (Figure 4). Considering the observed resistance to gemcitabine-docetaxel chemotherapy, we explored new treatment options for this patient. Additional IHC staining of tumor tissues demonstrated strong VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 positivity (Figure 3), suggesting a possible response to the specific VEGFR-2 inhibitor, apatinib.

Figure 4

CT images before and after gemcitabine-docetaxel chemotherapy

March 2015 CT images collected before gemcitabine-docetaxel chemotherapy, showing multi-lung metastatic nodules (a-c). May 2015 CT images collected after two gemcitabine-docetaxel chemotherapy cycles, showing disease progression presenting as increased lesion numbers and sizes (red arrows(d-f).

After the patient provided written, informed consent, we began treatment with apatinib alone in June 2015. Considering his young age and the possible drug toxicities, oral apatinib was administered at a dose of 500 mg/day. After one month, lung metastases were reduced in size and number, with only two small lesions remaining (Figure 5), indicating a partial response according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) [17]. In September 2015, after three months of treatment, almost all metastatic lesions had disappeared (Figure 5). Apatinib was continued as maintenance therapy for an additional six months and was stopped in March 2016. At the time of this writing, there were no signs of tumor recurrence or new metastatic nodules; 12 months of progression-free survival have been achieved to date. Apatinib-related adverse events experienced by the patient were primarily nonhematological, and included skin rash, short-term elevated alanine transaminase and aspartate amino transferase levels (grade 2, according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.4.03), and mild hand-foot syndrome (severe toxicity; grades 3-4).

Figure 5

CT images before, during, and after apatinib therapy

May 2015 CT images collected before apatinib therapy (a-c). June 2015 CT images collected one month after apatinib therapy, showing response to treatment presenting as secreased lesion numbers and sizes (d-f). September 2015 CT images collected three months after apatinib therapy, showing the disappearance of nearly all of the metastatic leasions (g-i). June 2016 CT images collected three months after apatinib therapy was stopped (j-l). No disease relapse and no new nodules were observed. No disease relapse and no new nodules were observed.

DISCUSSION

ASPS is a rare, highly vascularized soft tissue sarcoma. Hypervascularity with prominent veins and prolonged capillary staining can be demonstrated through angiography and contrast-enhanced CT scan. ASPS typically presents with long signals on both T2- and T1-weighted MRI images [5]. Histologically, ASPS grows as uniform, organoid nests of polygonal tumor cells with highly vascularized septa (Figure 2). Tumors are characterized by an unbalanced recurrent translocation t(X;17) (p11;q25) leading to expression of the chimeric oncoprotein, ASPL-TFE3 [18], an aberrant transcription factor that promotes ASPS tumorigenesis [19].

Angiogenesis is critical for tumor cell survival, proliferation, local invasion, and metastasis [20, 21]. The roles of VEGF-A, -B, -C, -D, -E, and their receptors (VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3) in tumor angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, cell proliferation, and metastasis are well established [22, 23]. VEGFR-2 is the major mediator of known VEGF-induced phenotypes, including microvascular permeability and neovascularization [24]. VEGF/VEGFR-2 interaction effectively promotes tumor angiogenesis via strong ligand-receptor binding, which also downregulates signaling pathways favoring rapid tumorigenesis. VEGFR-2 activation also appears to correlate with AKT/mTOR signaling [25, 26]. Pharmacological blockade of VEGFR-2 stabilizes endothelial barrier function and suppresses tumor cell extravasation in vivo, emphasizing the importance of VEGFR-2 signaling in tumor invasion and metastasis [27].

VEGFR-2 activation can be inhibited using a number of pharmacodynamic approaches, including receptor blockade (ramucirumab), ligand capture (bevacizumab, also known as avastin), and small-molecule inhibition (sorafenib, sunitinib, apatinib, and cediranib) [28]. The patient described in this report experienced disease progression following gemcitabine-docetaxel chemotherapy. Evidence suggests that some angiogenesis agents can potentiate chemotherapy results in cancer. For example, avastin abrogates reactive resistance, sensitizing both endothelial and cancer cells to therapy by blocking VEGF [29]. Apatinib reverses ABCB1- and ABCG2-mediated multidrug resistance by inhibiting transport, rather than by blocking AKT or ERK1/2 signaling [30]. Although VEGF inhibitors demonstrate potent advantages in cancer therapy, their impacts on overall survival are unclear. Resistance to therapy is associated with highly aggressive cancer phenotypes; therefore, no increase in overall survival has been observed [31].

In 2006, Azizi, et al. were the first to confirm VEGF expression in tumor cells, and VEGFR1 and 2 expression in intra-tumor endothelial cells in a patient with brain metastatic ASPS. The patient was treated with 26 bevacizumab cycles, but experienced disease progression after chemotherapy; eventually, tumor reduction and stable disease were achieved [32]. Other anti-angiogenic therapies have subsequently been used to treat ASPS cases (Table 1). In 2013, a phase II trial of once-daily cediranib, administered in 28-d cycles, was conducted in 43 patients with metastatic, unresectable ASPS, to determine the objective response rate. Sixty percent of patients had stable disease as the best response, with a disease control rate at 24 weeks of 84% [33]. MET is another potential anti-angiogenic target in ASPS treatment, as the ASPL-TFE3 oncoprotein increases MET auto-phosphorylation and activates downstream signaling. However, treatment with tivantinib, a MET inhibitor, only achieved stable disease (no tumor shrinkage) in two ASPS patients [34]. Sunitinib is important in the treatment of advanced or multidrug resistant ASPS. In 2011, nine patients with progressive metastatic ASPS receiving sunitinib (37.5 mg/day) achieved a median progression-free survival time of 17 months [35]. The following year, Abhimanyu, et al. reported a response to sunitinib in an ASPS patient with lung and bone metastases who had not responded to multiple prior chemotherapy regimens [36]. A 2016 retrospective study of 14 unresectable or metastatic ASPS patients treated with sunitinib showed that four patients achieved partial remission, while 10 achieved stable disease [37]. Resistance to anti-angiogenic therapeutics also occurs in ASPS patients. Pazopanib shares many tyrosine kinase targets with sunitinib, including those in the VEGF and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) pathways. William, et al. reported on two metastatic ASPS patients for whom sunitinib treatment resulted in stable disease lasting more than one year [38]. Following subsequent disease progression (after sunitinib and second-line bevacizumab), both patients again achieved disease stabilization with pazopanib treatment.

Table 1

Anti -angiogenic therapies used in ASPS patients

Time	Treatment Method	Patient Number	Age (years)	DiseaseStatus	Treatment Dose	Clinical Efficacy	Adverse Events
Our study	Apatinib	1	18	Metastatic	500 mg/day	PRPFS: 12-months	Skin rashLiver toxicityHand-foot syndrome
2016 [37]	Sunitinib	14	14–40	Unresectable or Metastatic	37.5 mg/day	PR: 4 monthsSD: 10 monthsMedian PFS: 41 months	Bleeding (35.7%)Hair and skin color change (37.5%) Mucositis (28.6%)
2016 [38]	Pazopanib	2	1: 312: 26	PD after sunitinib and bevacizuma treatment	1: 800 mg decreased to 600 mg/day2: 800 mg decreased to 400 mg/day	1: SD: 10 months2: SD: 8 months	1: Labetalol, diarrhea2: Hypoxia, pulmonary embolism
2014 [34]	Tivantinib	2	1: 122: 15	Metastatic	1: 120–360 mg bid/day2: 360 mg bid/day	1: SD: 248 weeks2: PFS: 3 years	1: Hyperbilirubinemia2: None
2013 [33]	Cediranib	43	19–58	Metastatic Unresectable	30 mg/day	ORR: 35%PR: 15 monthsSD: 26 months	HypertensionDiarrheaTransaminitis Proteinuria Hypothyroidism
2012 [36]	Sunitinib	1	26	Metastatic	50 mg/day	PR	-
2011 [35]	Sunitinib	9	22–58	Metastatic	37.5 mg/day	PR: 5 monthsSD: 3 monthsProgression: 1 monthsMedian PFS: 17 months	Fatigue: 1 Hypothyroidism: 2Hypertension: 2Liver toxicity: 1Nausea and vomit: 1Neutropenia: 4Chronic Anemia: 1Thrombocytopenia: 2
2006 [32]	Bevacizumab	1	8	Metastatic	5–10 mg/kg biweekly	PR	-

PR: partial remission; SD: stable disease; PD: progression disease; PFS: progression free survival; ORR: objective response rate.

The patient in our study has thus far achieved disease-free status for 12 months. Apatinib has produced promising clinical outcomes in several other types of cancer [39-43], and has a high binding affinity relative to other anti-angiogenic drugs. For example, apatinib ligand-receptor binding is 10 times greater than that of sorafenib [44, 45]. Apatinib also binds more strongly to VEGFR-2 than cediranib, a pan-VEGF inhibitor that mainly inhibits VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, and PDGF [46]. Additionally, since bevacizumab, a VEGF antibody, acts by blocking autocrine/paracrine VEGF signaling in tumor cells, intracellular autocrine VEGF signaling in tumor cells can greatly reduce its therapeutic potential. The internal VEGFR-2 inhibitor, apatinib, inhibits intracellular VEGF signaling, suppresses cell proliferation in vitro, and delays xenograft tumor growth in vivo; the anti-VEGF antibody, bevacizumab, demonstrates no such effects [47]. A genome-wide gene expression profile showed that ASPS expresses angiogenic mediators, including VEGF, c-MET, HIF-1α, and angiopoietin-like 2 [48]. Investigation of interactions between these mediators and the ASPS-TEF3 fusion oncoprotein, and exploration of angiogenic mediator inhibitors in combination therapies are warranted.

The tumor size, local resection success, and young age of our patient likely contributed to his survival. The maximum tumor diameter in this case was 4.5 cm. Reports regarding ASPS prognostic factors suggest that tumors smaller than 5 cm are associated with longer progression-free survival [49]. A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program analysis of ASPS cases demonstrated that large tumor size (> 10 cm) is correlated with poor prognosis [7]. Furthermore, our patient received local tumor resection before chemotherapy and apatinib treatment. For ASPS patients presenting with metastatic disease, surgical resection of the primary tumor is associated with better prognosis [7]. Finally, the patient in our study was only 18 years old. Unlike osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma, younger ASPS patients exhibit better 5-year survival than older patients. Children with ASPS have excellent 5-year survival rates of up to 100% [49]; however, the mean 5-year survival for all ASPS is 71% [2] and the mechanisms driving better prognoses in children are not well understood. However, pediatric tumors tend to be smaller than those in adults, with larger tumor size increasing risk of distant metastasis and reduced survival [9].

Although this is a single case report, use of apatinib to treat a hypervascular sarcoma produced a promising and satisfactory clinical outcome. Apatinib may provide an additional treatment option for advanced ASPS, particularly for patients with chemotherapy resistance. However, clinical studies with more cases and longer follow-up times will be required to validate and optimize apatinib use in ASPS patients.