title: Effectiveness of the bevacizumab-irinotecan regimen in the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme: Comparison with other second-line treatments without this regimen.
abstract: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyse the effectiveness of bevacizumab and irinotecan (BVZ/CPT-11) as a second-line treatment in patients with primary glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in comparison with a control group that were not administered BVZ/CPT-11 at the first recurrence. The difference in overall survival (OS) between the two groups was used as a predictor of effectiveness. OS was calculated according to prognostic factors and gender. A total of 28 and 32 patients were enrolled in the BVZ/CPT-11 cohort and control group, respectively. The median OS was 17.94 months (95% CI, 14.91-20.96) in the BVZ/CPT-11 treatment cohort and 10.97 months (95% CI, 7.65-14.30) in the control cohort. The results obtained on the effectiveness of BVZ/CPT-11 treatment in patients with primary GBM are consistent with data from previous studies. No significant differences were identified in OS based on prognostic factors; therefore, the latter cannot be used to select patients who would incur the greatest benefits from BVZ/CPT-11 treatment.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pharmacy Department, Central University Hospital of Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias 33006;
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Sánchez
authors.forename: Miguel Alaguero
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Calero
authors.forename: Alejandro José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sastre-Heres
authors.forename: María Teresa Iglesias
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Miguel Angel Calleja
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Fernando Martínez
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peña-Díaz