Treatment Information

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Ovarian Cancer treatment details. Biologic therapy.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.

Survival: monthsCountry:United States
Toxiciy Grade:5City/State/Province:Boston, MA
Treatments:Biologic therapyHospital:Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Nov 2007

Description:

Patients: This phase II study involved 44 women with platinum resistant ovarian cancer (36 patients) or peritoneal serous cancer (8 patients). The median age of the patients was 59.5, ranging from 31 to 87 years old. The majority (97.7%) had undergone surgery.

Treatment: These women were treated with the biological therapy bevacizumab (a monoclonal antibody).

Toxicity: Three women died from causes related to bevacizumab treatment. The causes of death were myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular ischemia; intestinal perforation; and convulsion and hypertensive encephalopathy. The study was stopped early because gastrointestinal perforations occurred in five patients, one of which died. Other serious adverse events included dyspnea (difficulty breathing), hypertension, fatigue, and gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting).

Results: The median survival was 10.7 months.

Support: This study was supported by Genentech Inc., which developed and markets bevacizumab as Avastin™.

Correspondence: Stephen A. Cannistra



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