Bevacizumab improves overall survival in platinum refractory ovarian cancer patients: A retrospective study

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of bevacizumab (BV) in combination with chemotherapeutic regimens for prolonging progression-free survival (PFS) as well as overall survival (OS) in patients with platinum-refractory ovarian cancer.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of platinum-refractory ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy between January 2010 and August 2015 in the Department of Gynecology at the Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University. After excluding for prior malignant disease, 57 patients were enrolled. The study end points included PFS and OS.

Median PFS and OS rates of patients with and without BV were 6.0 (1.9-10.1) and 3.0 (2.1-3.8), and 12.0 (7.7-23.2) and 7.0 (3.7-10.2), respectively, (PFS: P = 0.005 and OS: P = 0.008). Following univariate analysis, stage, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, chemotherapy regimens after platinum-refractory diagnosis, BV treatment status, ascites, and abdominal/gastrointestinal symptom with chemotherapy were significant factors. However, following multivariate analysis, chemotherapy regimens after platinum-refractory diagnosis, BV treatment status, and worsening symptoms with chemotherapy were significant factors. Hypertension and proteinuria rates were significantly more frequent in BV-treated patients, but severe adverse events were not significant. BV significantly improved OS in platinum-refractory ovarian cancer patients.

Our findings may potentially aid in developing treatment strategies for platinum-refractory patients with poor prognoses.