Impact of Prior Bevacizumab Treatment on VEGF-A and PlGF Levels and Outcome Following Second-Line Aflibercept Treatment: Biomarker Analysis of the VELOUR Trial.

PURPOSE

Aflibercept is a targeted anti-VEGF therapy used to treat patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) following progression on oxaliplatin-based regimens. This study evaluated the effect of prior bevacizumab treatment and growth factor levels on patient outcomes associated with aflibercept in the VELOUR phase III trial.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Baseline biomarker plasma concentrations were measured using a bead-based multiplex assay. Patients were grouped according to prior bevacizumab treatment, second-line treatment, and serum biomarker concentrations, and analyzed for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Plasma samples were available for 553 patients (placebo = 265; aflibercept = 288), of which 169 had received prior bevacizumab. Nine biomarkers implicated in angiogenesis or bevacizumab resistance correlated with prior bevacizumab therapy. VEGF-A and placental growth factor (PlGF) were the most significantly increased in patients who had received prior bevacizumab compared with those who had not received prior bevacizumab. In the placebo group, patients with high VEGF-A (>144 pg/mL) levels at baseline had worse OS and PFS compared with patients with lower levels at baseline (9.6 vs. 12.9 months). This was also seen in patients who received placebo and had high baseline PlGF (>8 pg/mL; 9.7 vs. 11.7 months). In the aflibercept group, prolonged OS and PFS were observed regardless of baseline VEGF-A or PlGF levels.

CONCLUSIONS

High VEGF-A and PlGF serum levels may underlie development of resistance to bevacizumab in patients with mCRC. Aflibercept retains its activity regardless of baseline VEGF-A and PlGF levels and may be an effective second-line treatment for patients with bevacizumab-induced resistance.