Bevacizumab in lung cancer: lackluster performance and unjustified expense?
A recent retrospective analysis of a large cohort of patients aged 65 and older with advanced non-small cell lung cancer failed to demonstrate any improvement in survival with the addition of bevacizumab to the platinum doublet in the first-line therapy. A few points have to be made: 1) a vast majority of patients with lung cancer are 65 and older; 2) important including fatal toxicity can occur with the use of bevacizumab; and 3) costs of bevacizumab are significant. Integrating the conclusions of this study into clinical practice and further analysis of underlying physical, psychosocial, and economic hurdles of bevacizumab use in lung cancer patients are certainly justified.
Department of Hematology-Oncology, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, USA. c_dasanu@yahoo.com
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Dasanu
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016527:Drug Costs; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab