title: Bevacizumab in first-line treatment of elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: German community-based observational cohort study results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the efficacy of first-line bevacizumab-based chemotherapy for untreated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) based on age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligibility criteria focused on M1 disease without prior palliative chemotherapy. Choice of chemotherapy regimen was at the physician's discretion. Predefined efficacy endpoints were response rate, progression-free and overall survival (PFS, OS). Patients were analysed by age (<70 vs. ≥70 years, <75 vs. ≥75 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1777 patients, 27% and 12% were ≥70 and ≥75 years, respectively. PFS was shorter in elderly patients (<70 vs. ≥70 years: 10.5 vs. 9.5 months, p = 0.074; <75 vs. ≥75 years: 10.5 vs. 8.9 months, p = 0.00019), as was OS (<70 vs. ≥70 years: 25.8 vs. 22.7 months, p < 0.0008; <75 vs. ≥75 years: 25.8 vs. 20.8 months; p < 0.0001). In the groups <70 and <75 years, PFS was longer in those receiving oxaliplatin-/irinotecan-containing regimens vs. those receiving 5-FU/capecitabine (<70 years: 10.6 vs. 9.0 months; p = 0.0065; <75 years: 10.6 vs. 9.2 months; p = 0.028); no difference in PFS was observed between oxaliplatin-/irinotecan-containing regimens vs. 5-FU/capecitabine regimens in both elderly age-group comparisons (≥70 years: 9.7 vs. 9.2 months; ≥75 years: 8.3 and 9.0 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First-line bevacizumab-based chemotherapies were effective in German mCRC patients ≥75 years of age, but PFS and OS were significantly shorter in this age group vs. younger patients.
authors.affiliation: Interdisziplinäres Tumorzentrum Mannheim, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. Ralf-Dieter.Hofheinz@medma.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hofheinz
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kindler
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seraphin
authors.forename: Heinz-Gert
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Hoeffkes
authors.forename: Anette-R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Valdix
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herrenberger
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hinke
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arnold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab