Bevacizumab plus microtubule targeting agents in heavily pre-treated ovarian cancer patients: a retrospective study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES. As vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is expressed in ovarian cancer, we assessed the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab (a monoclonal antibody targeting VEGF) plus microtubule targeting agents for heavily pre-treated ovarian carcinoma patients. METHODS. We retrospectively reviewed 43 patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Combined treatment included bevacizumab with paclitaxel in 32 (74%), docetaxel in 10 (23%), and vinorelbine in one (2.3%) patients, respectively. RESULTS. The median number of combined treatment was six cycles (range 1-29). On RECIST criteria, the objective response rate (ORR) was 40% (16% CR and 24% PR). Clinical benefit (complete response [CR] plus partial response [PR] and stable disease [SD] lasting ≥ 3 months) was 74% (CI95%: 46.7-77%). Median duration of treatment and overall survival were 3.9 months (range 0.2-14.4 months) and 20.1 months (CI95%: 13.8-20.1) respectively. No toxic death was reported. Grade 3-4 toxicity occurred in 30% of patients. Gastrointestinal perforations and fistula occurred in 3 (7%) and 6 (14%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION. Although being active in terms of ORR, bevacizumab plus microtubule targeting agents - mainly taxanes - leads to a high rate of gastro-intestinal perforations and fistula in heavily pre-treated ovarian carcinoma patients.

• Authors: Irène Asmane, Jean-Emmanuel Kurtz, Agathe Bajard, Jean-Paul Guastalla, Pierre Meeus, Olivier Tredan, Intidhar Labidi Galy, Isabelle Moullet, Philippe Ardisson, Lionel Vincent, David Coeffic, Armelle Dufresne, Jean-Pierre Bergerat, Isabelle Ray-Coquard
• Journal: Bulletin du cancer (Bull Cancer) Vol. 98 Issue 9 Pg. 80-9 (Oct 2011) ISSN: 1769-6917 [Electronic] France
• PMID: 21926034 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Taxoids
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Docetaxel
• Bevacizumab
• Vinblastine
• Cyclophosphamide
• Carboplatin
• Paclitaxel
• Vinorelbine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Bevacizumab
• Carboplatin (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial
• Cyclophosphamide (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Docetaxel
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Humans
• Intestinal Fistula (chemically induced)
• Intestinal Perforation (chemically induced)
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial (blood supply, drug therapy, mortality)
• Ovarian Neoplasms (blood supply, drug therapy, mortality)
• Paclitaxel (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Rectovaginal Fistula (chemically induced)
• Retrospective Studies
• Taxoids (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Treatment Outcome
• Urinary Bladder Fistula (chemically induced)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Vinblastine (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
• Vinorelbine