A phase II study of bevacizumab and irinotecan plus alternate-day S-1 as a second-line therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: the AIRS study

Different doses of bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis and Bayesian analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to explore the incremental benefit of bevacizumab (Bev) in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) with different doses.

METHODS

A literature search of eight electronic databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang databases, Chinese Biomedical Database, VIP medicine information, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE) was conducted from database creation to December 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared Bev at various dosages + chemotherapy (CT) versus placebo (or blank control) + CT were selected. The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR; complete response [CR] + partial response [PR]), and grade ≥ 3 adverse events (AEs) were integrated first by pooled analysis. The likelihood of ideal dosage of Bev was then ranked using random effects within Bayesian analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-six RCTs involving 18,261 patients met the inclusion criteria. OS increased significantly after using 5 mg (HR: 0.87, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.00) and 10 mg dosages of Bev (HR: 0.75, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.85) with CT, but statistical significance was not attained for the 7.5 mg dose (HR: 0.95, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.08). A significantly increased in PFS with doses of 5 mg (HR: 0.69, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.83), 7.5 mg (HR: 0.81, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.00), and 10 mg (HR: 0.60, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.68). ORR distinctly increased after 5 mg (RR: 1.34, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.55), 7.5 mg (RR: 1.25, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.50), and10 mg (RR: 2.27, 95% CI 1.82 to 2.84) doses were administered. Grade ≥ 3 AEs increased clearly in 5 mg (RR: 1.11, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.20) compared to 7.5 mg (RR: 1.05, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.35) and 10 mg (RR: 1.15, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.36). Bayesian analysis demonstrated that 10 mg Bev obtained the maximum time of OS (HR: 0.75, 95% CrI 0.58 to 0.97; probability rank = 0.05) indirectly compared to 5 mg and 7.5 mg Bev. Compared with 5 mg and 7.5 mg Bev, 10 mg Bev also holds the longest duration for PFS (HR: 0.59, 95% CrI 0.43 to 0.82; probability rank = 0.00). In terms of ORR, 10 mg Bev holds the maximum frequency (RR: 2.02, 95% CrI 1.52 to 2.66; probability rank = 0.98) in comparison to 5 mg and 7.5 mg Bev clearly. For grade ≥ 3 AEs, 10 mg Bev has the maximum incidence (RR: 1.15, 95% CrI 0.95 to 1.40, probability rank = 0.67) in comparison to other doses of Bev.

CONCLUSION

The study suggests that 10 mg dose Bev could be more effective in treating advanced CRC in efficacy, but 5 mg Bev could be more safer in terms of safety.

Triplet chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and S-1 for unresectable advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: phase I/II trial results

Background

Although triplet regimen of docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-FU (DCF) reportedly yields high response rates for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE), it has severe toxicity. In our previous phase II trial, grade 3/4 toxicities of neutropenia occurred in 68.8% of the patients. Development of chemotherapeutic regimen that does not impair quality of life of the patients with metastatic SCCE is therefore needed. A novel chemotherapeutic regimen combining docetaxel, cisplatin, and alternate-day administration of S-1 (modified DCS) may be associated with reduction of severe adverse effects.

Methods

This study is a single center phase I/II trial of chemotherapy using modified DCS regimen for patients with recurrent/unresectable SCCE. The phase I trial adopts a ‘3 + 3 patient cohort’, dose-escalating study design. In the phase II trial, the primary endpoint is evaluation of the overall response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints are evaluation of drug-related toxicity, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

In the phase I trial, the recommended dose for docetaxel, cisplatin, and S-1 were 40 mg/m² (day 1), 50 mg/m² (day 1), and 80 mg/m²/day, respectively. In the phase II trial (n = 50), the ORR was 54 %. The median OS and PFS were 10 and 4 months, respectively. Grade 3/4 adverse events included neutropenia (26%), leukopenia (14%), anorexia (10%) and febrile neutropenia (6%).

Conclusion

The modified DCS therapy for patients with advanced SCCE is feasible and safe in both chemotherapeutic and perioperative periods.

Registration number: UMIN000016364.