Bevacizumab Combined with Chemotherapy as First-line Therapy for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was designed to investigate the effect of bevacizumab plus chemotherapy such as pemetrexed and carboplatin followed by maintenance bevacizumab in patients with advanced, nonsquamous nonsmall cell lung cancer.

METHODOLOGY

Previously untreated patients with advanced, non-squamous nonsmall cell lung cancer received bevacizumab 15 mg/kg, pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 and carboplatin atan area under the concentration-time curve of 6 intravenously on day 1 every 21 days. Responding or stable patients who completed 6 cycles then received bevacizumab maintenance every 21 days until disease progression. In total, 32 patients were entered on the study.

RESULTS

No complete responses were observed, and 16 patients (50%) had a partial response. Sixteen patients (50%) displayed disease stability. The progression-free survival was 11.92 ± 6.12 months, and the overall survival was 12.52 ± 5.56 months. Treatment-related grade adverse events were obsearved gastrointestinal reaction (68%), rash (2%), Pectoralgia (1%), headache (1%), rlopecia (1%), renal function (1%), liver function (1%), and diarrhea (1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined pemetrexed, and carboplatin followed by maintenance bevacizumab was well tolerated and displayed remarkable effect in patients with advanced, nonsquamous nonsmall cell lung cancer.