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Meta-Analysis
. 2013;8(1):e51780.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051780. Epub 2013 Jan 22.

The impact of Bevacizumab (Avastin) on survival in metastatic solid tumors--a meta-analysis and systematic review

Limor Amit  1 , Irit Ben-Aharon, Liat Vidal, Leonard Leibovici, Salomon Stemmer
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The impact of Bevacizumab (Avastin) on survival in metastatic solid tumors--a meta-analysis and systematic review

Limor Amit et al. PLoS One. 2013.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of Bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy on overall survival of patients with metastatic solid tumors.

Design: A systematic literature search to identify randomized trials comparing chemotherapy with and without Bevacizumab in metastatic cancer. The primary end point was overall survival (OS) and the secondary end points were progression free survival (PFS) and toxicity. A meta-analysis was performed for each tumor type and for the combination of all tumors.

Results: 24 randomized trials with 8 different types of malignancies were included in this meta-analysis. Patients treated with Bevacizumab had an OS benefit, hazard ratio (HR) 0.89 (95% CI 0.84-0.93, P<0.00001 I(2)-4%). The combined analysis showed a PFS benefit with a HR 0.71 (95% CI 0.68-0.74, P<0.00001, I(2)-54%). The toxicity analysis showed a statistically significant increase in fatal adverse events (FAEs) in the Bevacizumab treatment arm, risk ratio (RR) 1.47 (95% CI 1.1-1.98). A separate analysis of the lung cancer trials showed an increased risk of fatal pulmonary hemorrhage with a RR of 5.65 (95% CI 1.26-25.26). The risk of G3-4 adverse events was increased: RR 1.2 (95% CI 1.15-1.24).

Conclusion: in this combined analysis Bevacizumab improved OS (with little heterogeneity) and PFS. These results should be considered in the light of lack of markers predictive of response and the increased severe and fatal toxicity seen with Bevacizumab treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: Dr Salomon Stemmer is an academic editor of PLOS. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Trial selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Overall survival.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Progression free survival.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Progression free survival and overall survival in 2nd line metastatic breast cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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