Neoadjuvant Anlotinib and Epirubicin for T4 Sinonasal Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Summary

T4 stage sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma (SNACC) is a rare but aggressive cancer in the nasal cavity and sinuses. These tumors often invade the skull base, eye socket, or brain covering (dura), making complete surgical removal difficult and carrying a high risk of recurrence even after surgery and radiation. The goal of this study is to test whether a new combination of drugs given before surgery - anlotinib (a targeted therapy) plus epirubicin (a chemotherapy drug) - can improve outcomes for patients with T4 SNACC. This is a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, phase II clinical trial. Eligible participants will receive 2 cycles of neoadjuvant treatment (anlotinib orally for 2 weeks on/1 week off, plus epirubicin intravenously on day 1 of each 3-week cycle). After completing neoadjuvant therapy, participants will undergo surgery to remove the tumor, followed by postoperative radiotherapy. The main question the study tries to answer is whether this approach increases the 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate compared to the historical rate of about 70% with standard treatment (surgery plus radiotherapy alone). Secondary questions include how many tumors shrink after neoadjuvant treatment, how many operations achieve complete removal with negative margins, major pathological response rates, overall survival, safety, quality of life, and the chance of avoiding disfiguring surgeries (such as removal of the eye or part of the skull). The study will enroll about 76 participants from 5 top medical centers in China. If positive, this study may establish a new standard of care for T4 SNACC.

Timeline

Start

2026-06-01

Primary completion

2028-06-01

Completion

2031-06-01

Publications

• Results Hanna GJ, Ahn MJ, Muzaffar J, Keam B, Bowles DW, Wong DJ, Ho AL, Kim SB, Worden F, Yun T, Meng X, Van Tornout JM, Conlan MG, Kang H. A Phase II Trial of Rivoceranib, an Oral Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 Inhibitor, for Recurrent or Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2023 Nov 14;29(22):4555-4563. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-23-1030.
• Results Lupinetti AD, Roberts DB, Williams MD, Kupferman ME, Rosenthal DI, Demonte F, El-Naggar A, Weber RS, Hanna EY. Sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma: the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center experience. Cancer. 2007 Dec 15;110(12):2726-31. doi: 10.1002/cncr.23096.
• Results Michel G, Joubert M, Delemazure AS, Espitalier F, Durand N, Malard O. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses: retrospective series and review of the literature. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2013 Nov;130(5):257-62. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2012.09.010. Epub 2013 Jun 6.
• Results Song X, Sun J, Yang G, Wang X, Wang L. Long-term outcomes of platinum-based chemotherapy for T4 stage sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma. Front Pharmacol. 2025 Sep 29;16:1623242. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1623242. eCollection 2025.
• Results Mauthe T, Holzmann D, Soyka MB, Mueller SA, Balermpas P, Held U, Freiberger SN, Rupp NJ, Meerwein CM. Overall and disease-specific survival of sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rhinology. 2023 Dec 1;61(6):508-518. doi: 10.4193/Rhin23.204.
• Results Cavalieri S, Mariani L, Vander Poorten V, Van Breda L, Cau MC, Lo Vullo S, Alfieri S, Resteghini C, Bergamini C, Orlandi E, Calareso G, Clement P, Hauben E, Platini F, Bossi P, Licitra L, Locati LD. Prognostic nomogram in patients with metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands. Eur J Cancer. 2020 Sep;136:35-42. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.05.013. Epub 2020 Jul 3.
• Results Seok J, Lee DY, Kim WS, Jeong WJ, Chung EJ, Jung YH, Kwon SK, Kwon TK, Sung MW, Ahn SH. Lung metastasis in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck. Head Neck. 2019 Nov;41(11):3976-3983. doi: 10.1002/hed.25942. Epub 2019 Aug 29.
• Results Mavrikios A, Goudjil F, Beddok A, Zefkili S, Bolle S, Feuvret L, Le Tourneau C, Choussy O, Sauvaget E, Herman P, Dendale R, Calugaru V. Proton therapy and/or helical tomotherapy for locally advanced sinonasal skull base adenoid cystic carcinoma: Focus on experience of the Institut Curie and review of literature. Head Neck. 2023 Jul;45(7):1619-1631. doi: 10.1002/hed.27371. Epub 2023 Apr 25.
• Results Bjorndal K, Krogdahl A, Therkildsen MH, Overgaard J, Johansen J, Kristensen CA, Homoe P, Sorensen CH, Andersen E, Bundgaard T, Primdahl H, Lambertsen K, Andersen LJ, Godballe C. Salivary gland carcinoma in Denmark 1990-2005: a national study of incidence, site and histology. Results of the Danish Head and Neck Cancer Group (DAHANCA). Oral Oncol. 2011 Jul;47(7):677-82. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2011.04.020. Epub 2011 May 25.
• Results Dodd RL, Slevin NJ. Salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma: a review of chemotherapy and molecular therapies. Oral Oncol. 2006 Sep;42(8):759-69. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2006.01.001. Epub 2006 Jun 6.

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