Bevacizumab plus irinotecan in recurrent malignant glioma shows high overall survival in a multicenter retrospective pooled series of the Spanish Neuro-Oncology Research Group (GEINO).
There is no 'standard of care' for recurrent malignant glioma (MG). Our aim is to confirm the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab 10 mg/kg plus irinotecan 125 mg/m² (or 340 mg/m² if enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs) every 2 weeks for a maximum of 1 year in a retrospective pooled series of patients with recurrent MG. The inclusion criteria were as follows: age 18 years and above, histology of MG, progression after radiation and temozolomide, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) of at least 60, and signed informed consent for bevacizumab compassionate use. Response was assessed by MRI using the Macdonald criteria and evaluation of the FLAIR sequence every 8 weeks. A total of 130 patients were enrolled; 72% had glioblastoma (GBM). The median age of the patients was 53 years (20-78); the median KPS was 80%; the median number of prior chemotherapy lines was 2 (1-5); the median interval between the diagnosis of MG and inclusion was 14.6 months (2-166); and the median number of bevacizumab infusions was 8 (1-39). The median follow-up duration was 7.2 months (1-47). The median overall survival (OS) was 8.8 months for GBM and 11.2 months for anaplastic glioma (AG). The median progression-free survival was 5.1 months for GBM and 4.6 months for AG. The response rate was 56% for GBM and 68% for AG. Neurological and KPS improvements were observed in 49 and 45% of patients. Only KPS less than 80% was associated with a worse significant response rate (odds ratio, 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.96). The most frequent grades 3-4 toxicities were asthenia (7%), diarrhea (6%), and thromboembolic events (5%). There were five toxic deaths (4%). Bevacizumab plus irinotecan in recurrent MG improves responses, progression-free survival, and OS compared with historical data. KPS of at least 80% was a predictive factor for response and OS.
Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Català d'Oncologia-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. mgilgil@iconcologia.net
Miguel J
MJ
Gil
Ramón
R
de Las Peñas
Gaspar
G
Reynés
Carme
C
Balañá
Pedro
P
Peréz-Segura
Adelaida
A
García-Velasco
Carlos
C
Mesia
Oscar
O
Gallego
Concepción
C
Fernández-Chacón
María
M
Martínez-García
Ana
A
Herrero
Raquel
R
Andrés
Manuel
M
Benavides
Teresa
T
Quintanar
Xavier
X
Pérez-Martin
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D057176:Compassionate Use Trials; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077204:Temozolomide; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000077146:Irinotecan; D003606:Dacarbazine; D002166:Camptothecin; D000077204:Temozolomide