Treatment Information

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Melanoma treatment details. Biologic therapy.

Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, TN, United States.

Survival: monthsCountry:United States
Toxiciy Grade:5City/State/Province:Nashville, TN
Treatments:Biologic therapyHospital:Sarah Cannon Research Institute
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Sep 2010

Description:

Patients:
This phase II study involved 57 patients with metastatic melanoma. The median age was 70 years and 68% of patients were male.

Treatment:
Patients were administered a combination of two biologic therapies bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein, and everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor. Both agents inhibit cancer cell division and stop blood vessel growth in tumors.

Toxicities:
One death due to heart attack was reported for this study. Other toxicities reported were of grade 3 or less, the most common grade 3 toxicities being fatigue, stomatitis, and hypertension.

Results:
Median overall survival for this study was 8.6 months and median progression-free survival was 4 months.

Support:
This study was partially supported by Genentech and Novartis, makers of bevacizumab (brand name Avastin) and everolimus (brand name Afinitor), respectively.

Correspondence: Dr. John D. Hainsworth; email: [email protected]



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