P2-026 - The Combination Chemotherapy of Gemcitabine and Carboplatin–Bevacizumab in Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background The addition of bevacizumab–paclitaxel and carboplatin showed significant benefits in progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. We are conducting a prospective study about safety and efficacy of combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and carboplatin–bevacizumab (GC + BV) in previously untreated patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC. Methods Between April 2010 and January 2012, a total of 35 patients with recurrent or advanced NSCLC (stage IIIB or IV) were treated with the GC + BV regimen. The regimen consists of gemcitabine of 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, carboplatin of AUC 5 and bevacizumab of 15 mg/kg on day 1. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks up to six cycles, followed by bevacizumab until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. Results Thirty-four patients were male. The median age of patients was 68 (55–79) years. Twenty-six patients were stage IV or recurrent disesase and 9 were IIIB. Fifteen (69%) patients were adenocarcinoma (12, squamous cell carcinoma; 8, others). Twenty-four (68%) patients had ECOG PS of 0–1. The overall response rate was 46% with no complete response and 16 partial responses. Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia were 16 and 1%, respectively. Clinically significant hemorrhagic events were not identified till now. There was one treatment-related death (septic shock with neutropenia during the first cycle). Non-hematologic toxicities were mild and manageable, but two patients complained grade 3 general weakness and one patient experienced grade 4 pneumonia. The median PFS was 5.7 months (95% CI, 3.69–6.45 months). Conclusions The addition of bevacizumab–gemcitabine and carboplatin in the treatment of selected patients is effective and tolerable in NSCLC including squamous cell carcinoma. This is ongoing study and we present preliminary results.