Bevacizumab, paclitaxel and carboplatin for advanced ovarian cancer: low risk of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular toxicity.

The purpose of this preliminary study was to retrospectively assess the incidence of bowel perforation and hypertension in two separate advanced ovarian cancer patient populations following first-line therapy, comprising paclitaxel, carboplatin and bevacizumab. The first 20 patients were treated with six cycles of paclitaxel (175 mg/m2), carboplatin (AUC of 5 i.v.), and bevacizumab (15 mg/kg of body weight); q21 days per an independent protocol. The subsequent patients (n = 12) were administered weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/m2), carboplatin (AUC of 5 i.v.) every four weeks, and bevacizumab (10 mg/kg of body weight) every two weeks for six cycles according to a separate, independent protocol. Bevacizumab was not added to either chemotherapy regimen until cycle 2. In both groups patients who achieved a complete response, partial response or stable disease at the conclusion of induction therapy received bevacizumab (10 mg/kg) and paclitaxel (135 mg/m2) q21 days as maintenance therapy. A total of 170 cycles (median = 6; range 3-6) of primary induction chemotherapy, 140 of which contained bevacizumab, were administered. Moreover, 206 cycles (median = 9; range 1-12) of maintenance chemotherapy have been delivered to 28 patients thus far. There was no incidence of GI perforation and only two patients demonstrated clinically significant hypertension. Previous studies involving bevacizumab have raised concerns regarding bowel perforations and hypertension. However, we did not encounter difficulties with either of these complications. While we recognize that the risk for bowel perforation remains in the 5-11% range, the study's preliminary results suggest that first-line treatment of advanced stage ovarian carcinoma with bevacizumab can be safely administered.