title: Bevacizumab added to the irinotecan and capecitabine combination for advanced colorectal cancer: a well-tolerated, active and convenient regimen.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The literature data regarding bevacizumab (BEV) administered together with capecitabine (CAP) and irinotecan (IRI) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) are limited. The safety and efficacy of the addition of BEV to the IRI and CAP (XELIRI) regimen were retrospectively analyzed and reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients 18 years or older with advanced CRC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) < or =2, exposed to < or =1 chemotherapy (CT) regimen not including IRI or CAP, received BEV 7.5 mg/kg and IRI 220 mg/m2 both on day 1; CAP 1.8 g/m2/d, dl-14. The treatment was repeated every 21 days up to a total of 8 cycles. Responding or stabilized patients were treated with BEV 7.5 mg/m2, administered as maintenance every 21 days until disease progression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four patients were treated, the majority (29, 85.3%) in first-line: eighteen (53%) male, 16 (47%) female, and aged 37-83 years (median 69.5). The treatment was moderately tolerated with mainly gastrointestinal complications: hematological, cardiovascular and other toxicities were also recorded, but they were manageable. No treatment-related death was noted. The overall response rate (RR) was 47.1%, while 41.2% of the patients achieved stable disease. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 8 and 14 months, respectively, with 16% progression-free and 62% alive at 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BEV-XELIRI is effective and well tolerated, leading to disease control in a vast majority of patients with advanced CRC.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medical Oncology, St. Savvas Anticancer Hospital, Athens, Greece. ardavanis@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ardavanis
authors.forename: Panteleimon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kountourakis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mantzaris
authors.forename: Savvoula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malliou
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doufexis
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sykoutri
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fragos
authors.forename: Gerassimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rigatos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000069287:Capecitabine; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069287:Capecitabine; D000077146:Irinotecan; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin