title: Phase II trial of bevacizumab plus gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in the biology and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Inhibitors of VEGF suppress the growth of pancreatic cancer in preclinical models. The objectives of this phase II study were to assess the response rate and overall survival of pancreatic cancer patients who received gemcitabine with the recombinant humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody bevacizumab.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with previously untreated advanced pancreatic cancer received gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) intravenously over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days. Bevacizumab, 10 mg/kg, was administered after gemcitabine on days 1 and 15. Tumor measurements were assessed every two cycles. Plasma VEGF levels were obtained pretreatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two patients were enrolled at seven centers between November 2001 and March 2004. All patients had metastatic disease, and 83% had liver metastases. Eleven patients (21%) had confirmed partial responses, and 24 (46%) had stable disease. The 6-month survival rate was 77%. Median survival was 8.8 months; median progression-free survival was 5.4 months. Pretreatment plasma VEGF levels did not correlate with outcome. Grade 3 and 4 toxicities included hypertension in 19% of the patients, thrombosis in 13%, visceral perforation in 8%, and bleeding in 2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of bevacizumab plus gemcitabine is active in advanced pancreatic cancer patients. Additional study is warranted. A randomized phase III trial of gemcitabine plus bevacizumab versus gemcitabine plus placebo is ongoing in the Cancer and Leukemia Group B.
authors.affiliation: Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, IL 60637, USA. hkindler@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Hedy L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kindler
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Friberg
authors.forename: Deepti A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Gershon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Locker
authors.forename: Sreenivasa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nattam
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kozloff
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Taber
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karrison
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dachman
authors.forename: Walter M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Stadler
authors.forename: Everett E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Vokes
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000093542:Gemcitabine