Bevacizumab with Single-agent Chemotherapy in Previously Treated Non-squamous Non-small-cell Lung Cancer: Phase II Study

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of bevacizumab with docetaxel or pemetrexed in previously treated patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Patients and methods: This study enrolled patients who had received at least one chemotherapy regimen, regardless of prior use of bevacizumab. Combinations of docetaxel or pemetrexed were chosen by attending physicians. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival, and secondary endpoints were safety, disease control rate, and overall survival.

Results: Thirty patients from two institutions were eligible. The median progression-free and overall survival were 5.0 months (95% confidence interval=3.2-8.8 months) and 15.8 months (95% confidence interval=10.5-19.6 months), respectively. The disease control rate was 66.7%. Treatments were well tolerated, but the development rate of osteonecrosis of the jaw was 10%.

Conclusion: Addition of bevacizumab in a salvage setting might be effective, but the development of osteonecrosis of the jaw needs to be monitored.

Keywords: Bevacizumab; non-squamous cell lung cancer; osteonecrosis of the jaw; salvage therapy.