Impact of preoperative bevacizumab on complications after resection of colorectal liver metastases: case-matched control study.
BACKGROUND
Chemotherapy may increase postoperative morbidity and mortality after liver surgery. Especially bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), could have a detrimental effect. To assess the impact of neoadjuvant bevacizumab on clinical outcome after hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) this case-matched control study was initiated.


METHODS
The multicentric data collection was performed in the Swiss HPB Center of the University Hospital Zurich (CH), the Department of Digestive Surgery and Transplantation Strasbourg (F), and the Division of Hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery of "Josep Tureta" Hospital Girona (E). Consecutive patients operated onbetween July 2005 and December 2007 due to CRLMs who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were assessed. Patients were divided in two groups: group A had neoadjuvant chemotherapy with bevacicumab, and group B had it without bevacizumab.


RESULTS
No differences in overall morbidity (56 vs. 40% in the bevacizumab and control groups, respectively, p = 0.23) or mortality could be documented. Similarly, the incidence of severe postoperative complications was not statistically different between the bevacizumab and control groups (31 and 18%, respectively, p = 0.31). Wound complications were comparable (11% in the bevacizumab group compared and 9% in the control group, p = 1.00). However, bevacizumab was associated with a significantly decreased incidence of postoperative hepatic insufficiency (7 vs. 20%, p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
No impact on the incidence or severity of complications by bevacizumab could be shown. Bevacizumab may even reduce the incidence of liver failure after liver surgery.
Department of Surgery, Swiss HPB (Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary) Center, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich, Switzerland.
Mahfud
M
Mahfud
Stefan
S
Breitenstein
Ashraf Mohammad
AM
El-Badry
Milo
M
Puhan
Andreas
A
Rickenbacher
Panagiotis
P
Samaras
Patrick
P
Pessaux
Santiago
S
Lopez-Ben
Daniel
D
Jaeck
Joan
J
Figueras
Pierre
P
Alain-Clavien
D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab