title: Apatinib for the treatment of gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antiangiogenesis therapy plays an important role in cancer treatment. Apatinib mesylate, a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, has been recommended as third-line treatment for metastatic gastric cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current review summarizes the publications and conference reports relating to apatinib from preclinical and clinical research in gastric cancer. Apatinib showed good safety, tolerance and treatment efficacy in Phase I/II studies. In a Phase III study, apatinib prolonged the median overall survival of patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic gastric cancer by 55 days and the median progression-free survival by 25 days compared with placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apatinib is a new treatment option for advanced gastric cancer. Apatinib is expected to have a broader application when it has been evaluated worldwide. The key issues are to find biomarkers and overcome drug resistance.
authors.affiliation: Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Department of Medical Oncology , Shanghai 200032 , China.
authors.forename: Ruixuan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C553458:apatinib
keywords: VEGF receptor-2; apatinib; stomach neoplasms; tyrosine kinase inhibitor