Salvage therapy of pretreated advanced breast cancer with bevacizumab and paclitaxel every two weeks: a retrospective case review study.
BACKGROUND
Targeting angiogenesis is nowadays one of the most promising approaches for breast cancer. Bevacizumab (BEV), a VEGF-trap monoclonal antibody, was recently approved in combination with paclitaxel (PAC) for the first line treatment of advanced breast cancer (ABC). The activity of this combination in pretreated patients is not known.


METHODS
Patients with pretreated ABC and progressive disease received BEV 10 mg/kg with PAC 135 mg/m(2) every two weeks for six months and then maintenance with BEV 15 mg/kg every three weeks until progression. This regimen was chosen for better patient convenience, while maintaining the same dose intensity for both drugs.


RESULTS
42 patients were reviewed retrospectively (41 f, 1 m, mean age 57 years). Overall response rate was 35.7%. Stable disease was observed in 45.2% of patients, whereas 14.3% of patients progressed. The median overall survival was greater than 20 months, with a one year rate of 83.4%. The median progression free survival was 12.1 months, with a one year rate of 51.8%. Toxicity was in general acceptable.


CONCLUSIONS
This biweekly BEV/PAC combination seems to be active with acceptable toxicity in pretreated ABC with an advantage over the weekly regimen regarding quality of life and preservation of resources.
Department of Medical Oncology, St Savas Anticancer hospital, Athens, Greece. alardavanis@yahoo.com
Alexandros
A
Ardavanis
Dimitrios
D
Doufexis
Panteleimon
P
Kountourakis
Savvoula
S
Malliou
Athanasios
A
Karagiannis
Evgenia
E
Kardara
Despina
D
Sykoutri
Margari
M
Charalampia
Gerasimos
G
Rigatos
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D013534:Survival
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D017239:Paclitaxel