BEVACIZUMAB IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

Lancet Oncol. 2013 Oct;14(11):1077-1085. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(13)70154-2. Epub 2013 Sep 10.

Bevacizumab plus capecitabine versus capecitabine alone in elderly patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer (AVEX): an open-label, randomised phase 3 trial.

Cunningham D, Lang I, Marcuello E, Lorusso V, Ocvirk J, Shin DB, Jonker D, Osborne S, Andre N, Waterkamp D, Saunders MP; for the AVEX study investigators.

Source

Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK. Electronic address: david.cunningham@rmh.nhs.uk.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Elderly patients are often under-represented in clinical trials of metastatic colorectal cancer. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab plus capecitabine compared with capecitabine alone in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

METHODS:

For this open-label, randomised phase 3 trial, patients aged 70 years and older with previously untreated, unresectable, metastatic colorectal cancer, who were not deemed to be candidates for oxaliplatin-based or irinotecan-based chemotherapy regimens, were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio via an interactive voice-response system, stratified by performance status and geographical region. Treatment consisted of capecitabine (1000 mg/m² orally twice a day on days 1-14) alone or with bevacizumab (7·5 mg/kg intravenously on day 1), given every 3 weeks until disease progression, unacceptable toxic effects, or withdrawal of consent. Efficacy analyses were based on the intention-to-treat population. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00484939.

FINDINGS:

From July 9, 2007, to Dec 14, 2010, 280 patients with a median age of 76 years (range 70-87) were recruited from 40 sites across ten countries. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either bevacizumab plus capecitabine (n=140) or capecitabine only (n=140). Progression-free survival was significantly longer with bevacizumab and capecitabine than with capecitabine alone (median 9·1 months [95% CI 7·3-11·4] vs 5·1 months [4·2-6·3]; hazard ratio 0·53 [0·41-0·69]; p<0 11="" 19="" 30="" 3="" 53="" adverse="" and="" any-grade="" bevacizumab="" capecitabine="" chemotherapy="" combination="" common="" deaths="" diarrhoea="" event="" events="" five="" for="" four="" grade="" group.="" group="" haemorrhage="" hand-foot="" in="" interest="" most="" nine="" occurred="" of="" or="" p="" patients.="" patients="" serious="" six="" special="" syndrome="" the="" thromboembolic="" treatment-related="" venous="" vs="" was="" were="" worse="">

INTERPRETATION:

The combination of bevacizumab and capecitabine is an effective and well-tolerated regimen for elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.