title: Capecitabine and bevacizumab in heavily pre-treated patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No standard treatment exists for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have progressed after treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), oxaliplatin, irinotecan and an anti-EGFR antibody. The efficacy and safety of bevacizumab and capecitabine in heavily pre-treated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, who had been exposed to 5-FU, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan in the first- and second line setting and mainly with irinotecan and cetuximab as third line treatment, were treated with capecitabine and bevacizumab. Four patients had received bevacizumab earlier.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From January 2009 to August 2010 34 patients started treatment with capecitabine and bevacizumab. The combination was well tolerated. Progression free survival was 5.4 months and median overall survival was 12.2 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of capecitabine and bevacizumab was safe with an acceptable toxicity profile and induced a significant rate of disease control in heavily pre-treated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. olelar02@heh.regionh.dk
authors.forename: Finn Ole
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Mogens Karsbøl
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Boisen
authors.forename: Annelene L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Fromm
authors.forename: Benny Vittrup
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069287:Capecitabine; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; 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; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil