Pre-existing antihypertensive treatment predicts early increase in blood pressure during bevacizumab therapy: the prospective AVALUE cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Antiangiogenic therapy is routinely used in a variety of cancer entities. Hypertension is the most common side effect of all currently available antiangiogenic treatments.


METHODS
In this prospective observational clinical trial, we investigated risk factors for blood pressure elevation in patients exposed to an antiangiogenic agent and explored the correlation between hypertension and the duration of antiangiogenic treatment.


RESULTS
In 169 patients, pre-existing antihypertensive medication was the most prominent risk factor associated with increased blood pressure during therapy. Between visits 1 and 3, the median systolic blood pressure increased by 10.85 mmHg in patients with pre-existing hypertension receiving antihypertensive medication while it increased by only 2.69 mmHg in patients without hypertension. The median increase in diastolic pressure was 7.28 versus 0.11 mmHg in patients with versus without pre-existing hypertension. Increases in blood pressure occurred early (within 6 weeks of starting therapy). In spite of this significant increase in the blood pressure, no major bleeding events or other related complications were observed during antiangiogenic therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-existing hypertension and treatment with antihypertensive medication correlated with a more pronounced increase in blood pressure. Thus, intensified antihypertensive therapy might be warranted early during bevacizumab therapy in patients already receiving antihypertensive treatment.
Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
Andreas
A
Wicki
Frank
F
Hermann
Vincent
V
Prêtre
Ralph
R
Winterhalder
Marc
M
Kueng
Roger
R
von Moos
Christoph
C
Rochlitz
Richard
R
Herrmann
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab