title: Safety and efficacy of bevacizumab in combination with first-line chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer: data from the Italian cohort of the ATHENA trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The ATHENA international study investigated the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab plus first-line chemotherapy in locally recurrent/metastatic breast cancer in routine oncology practice. The present paper focuses on the outcomes of the Italian cohort of the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A subgroup analysis was carried out to report on the safety (primary endpoint) and efficacy (secondary endpoint) outcomes of patients recruited from Italian Centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 278 patients were included. Median age was 57 years (range, 26-85), and ECOG performance status was 0 or 1 in 96% of the patients. Bevacizumab was predominantly combined with a taxane monotherapy: paclitaxel (41.4%), docetaxel (21.9%), or a taxane-based combination therapy (12.2%). The most frequent grade ≥3 adverse events previously associated with bevacizumab were hypertension (3.2%), proteinuria (2.9%), and cardiac disorders (0.7%). Median time to progression was 10.9 months. Median overall survival was 29.9 months, and 1-year survival probability was 85%. Objective responses were observed in 62.6% of the patients, and an additional 30% achieved stable disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from the study support the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of locally recurrent/metastatic breast cancer in the context of routine oncology practice in Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabi
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crivellari
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saracchini
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Battelli
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nisticò
authors.forename: Alba Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Capobianco
authors.forename: Germano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zampa
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bottini
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Del Prete
authors.forename: Edda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simoncini
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matasconi
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Restuccia
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Biganzoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000139:chemically induced; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D043823:Taxoids; D000068258:Bevacizumab