title: The added value of bevacizumab concomitantly administered with carboplatin versus carboplatin alone in patients with recurrent glioblastomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Carboplatin (CBDCA) and bevacizumab (BEV) are active in glioblastoma (GBM) with different profiles of toxicity. To date, no study has compared the value of the addition of BEV to historical or traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy. We sought to determine the relative value of BEV in combination with CBDCA versus CBDCA alone in patients with recurrent GBM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible patients with progressive GBM following surgery, radiotherapy and temozolomide received CBDCA either alone (group 1, n = 25) or in combination with BEV (group 2, n = 23) at 5 mg/kg once every 3 weeks between June 2010 and December 2013. Baseline characteristics and outcomes after treatment were recorded. The primary end points of this retrospective analysis were progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate. Secondary end points included safety and overall survival (OS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight patients were enrolled. The median number of cycles was 4 in group 1 and 6 in group 2. No toxicities or intracerebral bleeding were observed. The objective response rate was higher in group 2 than group 1, 66% vs 24% (p = 0.003). The estimated median PFS and OS were 3.1 vs 6.7 months (p&lt;0.0001) and 6.1 vs 8.6 months (p = 0.09) in group 1 vs group 2, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of BEV and CBDCA is associated with improved response rates and survival compared with CBDCA alone. These results highlight the value of BEV in recurrent GBM. However, the clinical benefit of this interesting approach needs validation in a larger patient cohort.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Center "Mother Theresa", Tirana - Albania.
authors.forename: Gentian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaloshi
authors.forename: Pavllo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diamandi
authors.forename: Bujar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cakani
authors.forename: Gramoz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brace
authors.forename: Arben
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rroji
authors.forename: Mentor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrela
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; 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 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D016190:Carboplatin