Combined Analysis of Efficacy: The Addition of Bevacizumab to Fluorouracil/Leucovorin Improves Survival for Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Purpose Bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA), a recombinant, humanized anti–vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody that inhibits tumor angiogenesis, has demonstrated survival benefit in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer when combined with irinotecan/fluourouracil (FU)/leucovorin (LV; IFL). Three randomized clinical studies have evaluated bevacizumab in combination with FU/LV alone. A combined analysis of raw data from these studies was performed to better assess the efficacy of bevacizumab with FU/LV. Patients and Methods The analysis used primary efficacy data from three independent studies, including 241 patients in a combined control group receiving either FU/LV or IFL and 249 patients receiving FU/LV/bevacizumab (5 mg/kg once every 2 weeks). The efficacy data included response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival. Results The median duration of survival was 17.9 months in the FU/LV/bevacizumab group, compared with ...