Further Evidence Avastin® Has Activity in Ovarian Cancer
Two recent reports in Gynecologic Oncology confirm that Avastin (bevacizumab) has significant therapeutic effects in women with ovarian cancer.
Avastin is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF appears to play an important role in tumor angiogenesis, and blocking this activity should have an anti-tumor effect. Clinical trials of Avastin have shown activity in a variety of tumors, especially when combined with other agents. However, there have been only two reports of treatment of ovarian cancer with Avastin alone or in combination and these reports involved less than 15 patients.
Researchers from the University of California at Irvine have reported the outcomes of 32 patients with recurrent advanced ovarian cancer treated with Avastin alone (n=23) or Avastin with other agents.[1] Avastin was administered every 3 weeks for an average of 6 cycles of therapy. The response rate to Avastin alone was 16% with 62% having disease stabilization. The median survival was 7 months. These authors suggested that Avastin had significant benefit in women with ovarian cancer that had failed multiple regimens.
Researchers from the University of Alabama have reported the effects of treating four patients with ascites due to ovarian cancer with Avastin.[2] These authors reported that no paracenteses were required after initiation of treatment with Avastin. These authors concluded that Avastin controlled ascites production in these patients with refractory disease.
Comments: These studies and prior publications suggest that Avastin is an active agent for the treatment of women with ovarian cancer and that future studies should involve earlier administration.
Related News
Avastin® Has Activity in the Treatment of Ovarian Cancers (5/18/2006)
AvastinTM May Be Effective in Ovarian Cancer (3/9/2005)
References
[1] Monk BJ, Han E, Josephs-Cowan CA, et al. Salvage bevacizumab (rhuMAB BEGF)-based therapy after multiple prior cytotoxic regimens in advanced refractory epithelial ovarian cancer. Gynecologic Oncology. 2006;June 19;[Epub ahead of print].
[2] Numum TM, Rocconi RP, Whitworth J, et al. The use of bevacizumab to palliate symptomatic ascites in patients with refractory ovarian cancer. Gynecologic Oncology 2006;June 22;[Epub ahead of print].
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