Abstract
Background:
Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that provides a survival benefit to patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the treatment is sometimes accompanied by life-threatening bleeding events, and studies have not yet identified factors that can predict outcomes for NSCLC patients receiving bevacizumab.
Methods:
To identify prognostic factors for patients with NSCLC who are undergoing bevacizumab therapy, this study retrospectively investigated 34 consecutive patients with NSCLC treated with bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy.
Results:
Adverse cardiovascular events, including hypertension and bleeding events, during bevacizumab therapy were observed in 18 patients (53%). Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and log-rank tests revealed that median overall survival was significantly better in patients who experienced adverse cardiovascular events than those who did not (442 versus 304 days; P=0.012). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, the onset of adverse cardiovascular events was independently associated with a better overall survival.
Conclusions:
The onset of adverse cardiovascular events during bevacizumab therapy may be a favorable prognostic factor for patients with NSCLC. The results of this retrospective study warrant further large-scale prospective trials.