Abstract
Studies carried out through the past two decades have evidenced that addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy improves the efficacy both in first-line and second-line treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Benefit of adding bevacizumab to second-line regimen after failing a bevacizumab-containing regimen, or aflibercept plus FOLFIRI) (irinotecan, 5-FU and leucovorin) after failing first-line oxaliplatin regimen with or without bevacizumab or regorafenib as a salvage therapy, do indicate the addiction to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents in these patients. This concept also lends some support from the NSABP C-08 adjuvant trial of colon cancer which showed very substantial improvement in time-to-recurrence for the one year of bevacizumab administration, but this benefit was quickly lost once the drug was stopped. The author reviews the data on anti-VEGF therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer.
- Received March 15, 2013.
- Revision received May 6, 2013.
- Accepted May 9, 2013.
- Copyright© 2013 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved