Bevacizumab Plus Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Results from a Spanish Observational Study
Pages 128-134
Pedro Salinas Hernández, Rafael Trujillo Vilchez, Antonio Arriví García-Ramos, Rosana Grande Ladron de Guevara, Angeles Rodríguez Jaraiz, Pedro Gallurt Moreira, Jose Maria Vieitez de Prado, Miguel Ruiz López de Tejada, Antonio Irigoyen Medina, Juan Manuel Campos Cervera, Juan Carlos Cámara Vicario, Uriel Bohn Sarmiento, Pedro López Tendero, Juan Domingo Alonso Lajara, Ana León Carbonero, Marisa García de Paredes, Juan de Alvaro Liaño, Asunción Juarez Marroquí, Luis López Gómez and Diego Soto de Prado Otero
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-7229.2013.02.03.1
Published: 31 July 2013

Abstract: Background: This observational study evaluated the efficacy and safety of treatment with bevacizumab plus chemotherapy until disease progression (PD) in Spanish patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Methods: This multicentre, retrospective, observational analysis included patients receiving bevacizumab plus fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment for mCRC who then developed PD. All patients received treatment in hospital oncology departments and none received bevacizumab as part of a clinical trial. Patients discontinuing treatment with bevacizumab for reasons other than PD were excluded. The primary endpoint was PFS; secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR) and safety.

Results: Overall, 165 patients were evaluable for analysis: median age 63.0 years; male/female 62%/38%; ECOG performance status 0/1/2 55%/43%/2%. Median duration of bevacizumab treatment was 8.7 months. ORR was 48.5% (6 complete and 74 partial responses) and disease control rate was 74%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.4 months (95% CI 7.2–9.6). Patients receiving oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based regimens had median PFS of 9.2 and 7.7 months, respectively; those receiving treatment not containing either oxaliplatin or irinotecan had a median PFS of 6.1 months. KRAS status did not have a statistically significant effect on PFS (9.5 vs. 7.8 months for KRAS wild-type vs. mutant tumours, respectively; p=0.647) or ORR (44.8% vs. 52.6%, respectively; p=0.391). The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were: diarrhoea (7%), paraesthesia (7%), neutropenia (3%), cutaneous toxicity (2%), and thrombocytopenia (2%).

Conclusions: Treatment with bevacizumab plus standard chemotherapy is an effective and well-tolerated option for patients with mCRC who continue treatment until PD.