Avastin plus 5-FU regimen OK'd as second-line therapy

Avastin plus 5-FU regimen OK'd as second-line therapy

Bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) has been approved by the FDA in combination with a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy regimen as a second-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. The phase III trial that led to the approval of the therapy evaluated 829 patients who received either bevacizumab plus FOLFOX4 (oxaliplatin, 5-FU, leucovorin) or FOLFOX4 alone and who were previously treated with irinotecan (Camptosar, Pfizer) and 5-FU as their initial therapy for metastatic disease or as adjuvant therapy. Results showed a 33% improvement in survival for the combination regimen. Median survival was 13 months versus 10.8 months. Bevacizumab is a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor that is also approved as a first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with 5-FU-based chemotherapy.

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