title: Capecitabine and bevacizumab as first-line treatment in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy and safety of capecitabine and bevacizumab in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) considered unsuitable for receiving first-line chemotherapy with an irinotecan or oxaliplatin-based combination were assessed in a phase II, open, multicentre, uncontrolled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment consisted of capecitabine 1250 mg m(-2) (or 950 mg m(-2) for patients with a creatinine clearance of 30-50 ml min(-1)) twice daily on days 1-14 and bevacizumab (7.5 mg kg(-1)) on day 1 every 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 59 patients aged >or=70 years with mCRC were enrolled. In an intention-to-treat analysis, the overall response rate was 34%, with 71% of patients achieving disease control. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 10.8 months and 18 months, respectively. In all, 32 patients (54%) had grade 3/4 adverse events (AEs), the most common being hand-foot syndrome (19%), diarrhoea (9%) and deep venous thrombosis (7%). Four patients died because of treatment-related AEs. A relationship was detected between creatinine clearance <or=50 ml min(-1) and the development of non-bevacizumab-related grade 3/4 AEs. The incidence of bevacizumab-associated AEs (hypertension, thromboembolic events and proteinuria) was consistent with that of previous reports in elderly patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bevacizumab combined with capecitabine represents a valid therapeutic alternative in elderly patients considered to be unsuitable for receiving polychemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Hospital La Paz/Autónoma University School of Medicine. IdiPAZ. RETIC, P degrees de la Castellana, Madrid 261- 28046, Spain. jfeliu.hulp@salud.madrid.org
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feliu
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Safont
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salud
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Losa
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Girón
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Escudero
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Madroñal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolaños
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Llombart
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castro-Carpeño
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Barón
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069287:Capecitabine; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; 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; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil