title: Bevacizumab Associated with Chemotherapy for Initially Non-resectable Liver Metastases from Colorectal Cancer: a Case-Control Study.
abstract: The place of bevacizumab in therapy of patients with initially non-resectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC) remains debated. Bevacizumab may increase the efficacy of chemotherapy but it may also maintain dormant micrometastases in a dormant state, eventually increasing the long-term likelihood of tumor relapse. The aim of this study was to explore this hypothesis.
  
  
  
  A retrospective case-control study was performed in patients with initially non-resectable CRC liver metastases. Metastases were rendered resectable after chemotherapy with (cases) or without (controls) bevacizumab. Cases and controls were matched for synchronicity, number and maximal size of metastases. The main objective was the disease-free survival (DFS).
  
  
  
  A total of 82 patients were enrolled (41 in each group). The median DFS was 12.0 months in the bevacizumab group, and 10.2 months in the group treated with chemotherapy alone (p=0.26).
  
  
  
  We observed no significant effect on DFS for bevacizumab when added to chemotherapy in patients with initially non-resectable liver metastases. Prospective trials on this issue are warranted.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital, Lille, France.
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Alt
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital, Lille, France.
authors: Stéphanie
authors: S
authors: Truant
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital, Lille, France.
authors: Thibaut
authors: T
authors: Renaud-Vantroys
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital, Lille, France.
authors: Cédric
authors: C
authors: Séquier
authors: Department of Biostatistics; University Hospital, Lille, France.
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Duhamel
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital, Lille, France.
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: El Amrany
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital, Lille, France.
authors: Anthony
authors: A
authors: Turpin
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital, Lille, France.
authors: Samira
authors: S
authors: Makhloufi
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital, Lille, France.
authors: François René
authors: FR
authors: Pruvot
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital, Lille, France mohamed.hebbar@chru-lille.fr.
authors: Mohamed
authors: M
authors: Hebbar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000068258:Bevacizumab
keywords: Bevacizumab; colorectal cancer; liver metastases