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Addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy improved QOL in ovarian cancer
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The addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy improved abdominal or gastrointestinal symptoms among patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, according to analyses of phase 3 study results.
The AURELIA trial included 361 patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer assigned chemotherapy plus bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) or chemotherapy alone. Patients completed questionnaires at baseline and after every two or three cycles of therapy.
When researchers used the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire–Ovarian Cancer Module 28 to assess patient-reported outcomes, results showed a higher percentage of patients who received bevacizumab reported a ≥15% improvement in abdominal/gastrointestinal symptoms by week 8 or 9 compared with those who received chemotherapy alone (21.9% vs. 9.3%; difference, 12.7%; 95% CI, 4.4-20.9).
A mixed-model repeated-measures analysis of all questionnaires also indicated improvements with bevacizumab (difference, 6.4 points; 95% CI, 1.3-11.6).
Patient responses to the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Ovarian Cancer symptom index also indicated a higher rate of patients treated with bevacizumab experienced ≥15% improvements in abdominal or gastrointestinal symptoms at week 8 or 9 (12.2% vs. 3.1%; difference, 9.0%; 95% CI, 2.9-15.2).
“The results of these prespecified quality-of-life analyses indicate that the benefits of bevacizumab in AURELIA extended beyond the prolongation of PFS to include greater improvements in abdominal/gastrointestinal symptoms and other aspects of quality of life, supporting a role for bevacizumab with chemotherapy in the treatment of women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer,” the researchers wrote.
Disclosure: The researchers report employment/leadership positions or consultant/advisory roles with, stock ownership in, and honoraria or other remuneration from Hoffman-La Roche.
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