Bevacizumab doesn't prolong survival in stage II-III colon CA

(HealthDay)—For patients with stage 2 to 3 colon cancer, the addition of bevacizumab to modified fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX6) does not prolong disease-free or overall survival, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Carmen J. Allegra, M.D., from the University of Florida in Gainesville, and colleagues examined the disease-free and overall survival at a median of five years of follow-up in a trial designed to assess the safety and efficacy of adding bevacizumab to FOLFOX6. A cohort of 2,673 patients with stage 2 to 3 colon cancer were randomly assigned to receive either modified FOLFOX6 once every two weeks for six months, or modified FOLFOX6 once every two weeks for six months plus bevacizumab for 12 months beginning concurrently with chemotherapy.

The researchers found that the addition of bevacizumab was not associated with increased disease-free survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.93; P = 0.35). Bevacizumab had a different effect on disease-free survival before and after 1.25 years. There was no difference in overall survival for the two treatment groups (HR, 0.95; P = 0.56) or for those with stage 3 disease (HR, 1.0; P = 0.99).

"On the basis of our results, which showed a lack of benefit associated with the use of bevacizumab for one year along with six months of FOLFOX chemotherapy, bevacizumab should not be used for the management of patients with stage 2 or 3 colon cancer in the adjuvant setting," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to Genentech, which manufactures bevacizumab.