Safety, efficacy, and time to clinical response with bevacizumab plus FOLFIRI regimen in metastatic colorectal cancer

Abstract

e15138 Background: Bevacizumab (BEV) has shown clinical activity in metastatic colorectal cancer patients (mCRC)and randomised phase III trials have demonstrated that this agent significantly improves overall and/or progression-free survival when added to first-line irinotecan based chemotherapy (CT) regimens. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of BEV plus FOLFIRI (irinotecan, 5- fluorouracil, and leucovorin) as first line treatment in 27 consecutive metastatic colorectal cancer cases, with the primary end point to calculate the median time to clinical response with this chemotherapeutic schedule. Methods: Between October 2007 and January 2008 we collected the data on 27 patients with mCRC treated with first line chemotherapy with BEV plus FOLFIRI. Elegibility criteria had to be: mCRC; no prior CT for metastatic disease; ECOG PS 0/1, adequate organ function; no CNS metastases. The treatment consisted of a minimum of six cycles of irinotecan plus infusional 5-FU/LV according to the classical FOLFIRI schedule; BEV (5mg/kg) was given on day 1 with CT and then every 2 weeks until disease progression. Safety and response were assessed at the time of first CT and every 4 weeks thereafter. Results: 27 pts were evaluable (male 18; median age 61 years (range 45–77), ECOG PS 0: 52%, PS 1: 48%. The sites of metastases were: liver (15 pts), lung (5 pts), liver and lung (5 pts), peritoneal wall (2 pts).Median follow-up was 18 weeks. Two patients had complete response(CR) and 13 pts partial response (PR), with an overall response rate of 57.7%. Five patients had stable disease and 6 patients showed progressive disease. A clinical benefit was demonstrated in 77 % of pts. We observed a median time to clinical response of 11 weeks, evaluated with tumor markers and with CT/NMR/US examinations. A grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was detected in 39% of pts and grade 2 or 3 hypertension in 9%. We did’nt observe cases of thrombosis, bleeding and gastrointestinal perforation, sometimes related to the use of BEV. Conclusions: In this little experience the efficacy and safety of BEV associated with FOLFIRI schedule, a first line therapy in mCRC,is consistent with results from other previous studies, showing moreover a short time to clinical response with this association. No significant financial relationships to disclose.