Comparison of bevacizumab alone or with chemotherapy in recurrent ovarian cancer patients

Background To compare the efficacy of chemotherapy (C) combined with bevacizumab (Bev) versus Bev alone in recurrent, heavily pretreated epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods A multicenter analysis of patients treated from 2004 to 2011 was performed. Demographic, treatment, response, and adverse event information were obtained. Progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Results Of 277 patients (median age: 58 years), the majority had Stage III and IV (86%) disease, and 72% had serous histology. 244 (88%) were treated with C + Bev and 33 (12%) with Bev. Corresponding median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.7 and 6.7 months, and median overall survival (OS) was 14.3 and 10.5 months, respectively. The chemotherapeutic agents combined with Bev and the median OS include: pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (n = 19, OS of 20.4 months), taxanes (n = 55, OS of 20.2 months), gemcitabine (n = 106, OS of 14.1 months), topotecan (n = 43, OS of 13 months), and cyclophosphamide (n = 21, OS of 13 months). There was no significant difference in toxicities between the C + Bev vs. Bev alone group. Conclusion This retrospective analysis supports that combination chemotherapy and bevacizumab prolongs PFS and OS compared with bevacizumab alone.