Platinum-based doublet chemotherapy plus bevacizumab without bevacizumab maintenance in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Abstract

Background: We report on a retrospective, consecutive non-randomized group of patients who received bevacizumab plus chemotherapy without bevazicumab maintenance.

Patients and methods: Patients with adenocarcinoma subtype of NSCLC and advanced disease received carboplatin and vinorelbine together with bevazicumab for four cycles without bevazicumab maintenance. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), response rate (RR) and toxicity were reviewed.

Results: A total of 30 consecutive patients were included in a period of two years. RR, bleeding, thromboembolic and haematological complications were comparable to those of the literature. Median OS and PFS were 8.8 and 4.5 months for patients with performance status (PS) 0-1, while they were 2.6 and 1.2 months for those with PS 2, p-values being 0.006 and 0.039, respectively.

Conclusion: The effect of maintenance bevazicumab on OS has not yet been established but it has been proven as being favourable on PFS. Our data suggest that patients with PS 2 should not receive this treatment.

Keywords: Lung cancer; NSCLC; angiogenesis; bevacizumab; brain metastases; humanized monoclonal antibody; non-small cell lung cancer; overall survival; platinum-based chemotherapy; progression-free survival; pulmonary haemorhage; vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A).