PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - LINDA MICHELSEN
AU  - JENS BENN SØRENSEN
TI  - Platinum–Vinorelbine Induction Chemotherapy plus Bevacizumab With and Without Pemetrexed Switch Maintenance in Advanced NSCLC
DP  - 2015 Nov 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 6255--6259
VI  - 35
IP  - 11
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/35/11/6255.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/35/11/6255.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2015 Nov 01; 35
AB  - Background: Little information is available until today regarding the effect of platinum-doublet chemotherapy with bevacizumab followed by pemetrexed as a sole maintenance treatment. Original data concerns different induction regimens plus bevacizumab with bevacizumab maintenance to progression in advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods: Two consecutive groups of patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC received carboplatin, vinorelbine and bevacizumab for four cycles. Group A (2010-2012) did not receive any maintenance therapy, whereas group B (2012-2013) received pemetrexed switch maintenance (500 mg/m2) every three weeks until disease progression. Results: The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.4 months and 7.3 months (p<0.001) and one-year survival was 42% and 52% for Group A (n=20) and B (n=22) patients, respectively. Disease control rates were 65% and 86% (p=0.104). Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism occurred in three (15%) and seven (32%) patients in group A and B, respectively. Conclusion: The inferior PFS (p<0.001) without maintenance suggests that induction treatment including bevacizumab should not be planned without subsequent maintenance treatment. Whether it is better to use pemetrexed or bevacizumab, or a combination of both, as maintenance therapy is not yet established.