Adverse cardiovascular events predict survival benefit in non-small lung cancer patients treated with bevacizumab

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.

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.

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.

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.