title: Prognostic value of treatment-related factors in metastatic colorectal cancer using a stop-and-go strategy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to identify treatment-related factors prognostic of survival in a cohort of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) receiving a palliative, stop-and-go chemotherapy regimen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients receiving first-line treatment with biweekly FLIRI plus bevacizumab were included. The outcome was overall survival. Cox regression analysis was used to identify predictors of outcome. We analysed reduction in chemotherapy dosage (no vs. ≤25 or >25 % reduction), bevacizumab administrated to <50, or ≥50 % to chemotherapy treatments, best response during the first 24 weeks of treatment, and local treatment of metastases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 257 patients. Median survival was 23.6 months. Chemotherapy reduction did not influence outcome. Bevacizumab administrations (≥50 %) were associated with improved outcome: hazard ratios (HR) 0.56 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.34-0.90, p = 0.018). Partial response (PR) vs. no change (NC) was borderline significant: HR 0.66 (95 % CI 0.43-0.99, p = 0.048), whereas progressive disease (PD) vs. NC increased mortality HR 2.48 (95 % CI 1.19-5.19, p = 0.016). Local treatment of metastases improved outcome: HR 0.30 (95 % CI 0.15-0.61, p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a cohort of mCRC patients, receiving a palliative, stop-and-go regimen, administration of bevacizumab to ≥50 % of chemotherapy treatments and local treatment of metastases were associated with better survival. PR improved outcome compared to NC, whereas PD was prognostic of increased mortality.
authors: Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark, camkro@rm.dk.
authors: C J S
authors: CJ
authors: Kronborg
authors: A R
authors: AR
authors: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab