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Cidon EU, Alonso P, Masters B. Markers of Response to Antiangiogenic Therapies in Colorectal Cancer: Where Are We Now and What Should Be Next? CLINICAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS-ONCOLOGY 2016; 10:41-55. [PMID: 27147901 PMCID: PMC4849423 DOI: 10.4137/cmo.s34542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), it remains the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the Western world. Angiogenesis is a complex process that involves the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting vessels. It is essential for promoting cancer survival, growth, and dissemination. The inhibition of angiogenesis has been shown to prevent tumor progression experimentally, and several chemotherapeutic targets of tumor angiogenesis have been identified. These include anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatments, such as bevacizumab (a VEGF-specific binding antibody) and anti-VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, although antiangiogenic therapy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of several cancers, including CRC. However, it is also associated with its own side effects and financial costs. Therefore, the identification of biomarkers that are able to identify patients who are more likely to benefit from antiangiogenic treatment is very important. This article intends to be a concise summary of the potential biomarkers that can predict or prognosticate the benefit of antiangiogenic treatments in CRC, and also what we can expect in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Una Cidon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Bournemouth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Bournemouth, UK
| | - P Alonso
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Clinical University Hospital, Valladolid, Spain
| | - B Masters
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham, UK
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Collinson F, Hutchinson M, Craven RA, Cairns DA, Zougman A, Wind TC, Gahir N, Messenger MP, Jackson S, Thompson D, Adusei C, Ledermann JA, Hall G, Jayson GC, Selby PJ, Banks RE. Predicting response to bevacizumab in ovarian cancer: a panel of potential biomarkers informing treatment selection. Clin Cancer Res 2013; 19:5227-39. [PMID: 23935036 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-13-0489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to identify and validate novel predictive and/or prognostic serum proteomic biomarkers in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) treated as part of the phase III international ICON7 clinical trial. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN ICON7 was a phase III international trial in EOC which showed a modest but statistically significant benefit in progression-free survival (PFS) with the addition of bevacizumab to standard chemotherapy. Serum samples from 10 patients who received bevacizumab (five responders and five nonresponders) were analyzed by mass spectrometry to identify candidate biomarkers. Initial validation and exploration by immunoassay was undertaken in an independent cohort of 92 patients, followed by a second independent cohort of 115 patients (taken from across both arms of the trial). RESULTS Three candidate biomarkers were identified: mesothelin, fms-like tyrosine kinase-4 (FLT4), and α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP). Each showed evidence of independent prognostic potential when adjusting for high-risk status in initial (P < 0.02) and combined (P < 0.01) validation cohorts. In cohort I, individual biomarkers were not predictive of bevacizumab benefit; however, when combined with CA-125, a signature was developed that was predictive of bevacizumab response and discriminated benefit attributable to bevacizumab better than clinical characteristics. The signature showed weaker evidence of predictive ability in validation cohort II, but was still strongly predictive considering all samples (P = 0.001), with an improvement in median PFS of 5.5 months in signature-positive patients in the experimental arm compared with standard arm. CONCLUSIONS This study shows a discriminatory signature comprising mesothelin, FLT4, AGP, and CA-125 as potentially identifying those patients with EOC more likely to benefit from bevacizumab. These results require validation in further patient cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Collinson
- Authors' Affiliations: Clinical Trials Research Unit, Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research, University of Leeds; St James's Institute of Oncology, Bexley Wing; Cancer Research UK Centre, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, St James's University Hospital; Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds; MRC Clinical Trials Unit; UCL Cancer Institute, University College, London; and Christie Hospital, University of Manchester, Withington, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Al-Husein B, Abdalla M, Trepte M, Deremer DL, Somanath PR. Antiangiogenic therapy for cancer: an update. Pharmacotherapy 2013. [PMID: 23208836 DOI: 10.1002/phar.1147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The idea of antiangiogenic therapy was the brainchild of Dr. Judah Folkman in the early 1970s. He proposed that by cutting off the blood supply, cancer cells would be deprived of nutrients and, hence, treated. His efforts paid off when bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor, was approved as antiangiogenic therapy in 2004 for the treatment of colon cancer. Since then, an array of antiangiogenic inhibitors, either as monotherapy or in combination with other cytotoxic and chemotherapy drugs, have been developed, used in clinical trials, and approved for the treatment of cancer. Despite this important breakthrough, antiangiogenic therapy for cancer met with a number of hurdles on its way to becoming an option for cancer therapy. In this article, we summarize the most current information on the mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis, proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors, potential targets and their mechanisms of action, and experimental evidences, as well as the most recent clinical trial data on antiangiogenic agents for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belal Al-Husein
- Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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Kindler HL, Karrison TG, Gandara DR, Lu C, Krug LM, Stevenson JP, Jänne PA, Quinn DI, Koczywas MN, Brahmer JR, Albain KS, Taber DA, Armato SG, Vogelzang NJ, Chen HX, Stadler WM, Vokes EE. Multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized phase II trial of gemcitabine/cisplatin plus bevacizumab or placebo in patients with malignant mesothelioma. J Clin Oncol 2012; 30:2509-15. [PMID: 22665541 PMCID: PMC3397785 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2011.41.5869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2011] [Accepted: 04/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Gemcitabine plus cisplatin is active in malignant mesothelioma (MM), although single-arm phase II trials have reported variable outcomes. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors have activity against MM in preclinical models. We added the anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab to gemcitabine/cisplatin in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized phase II trial in patients with previously untreated, unresectable MM. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligible patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1 and no thrombosis, bleeding, or major blood vessel invasion. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Patients were stratified by ECOG performance status (0 v 1) and histologic subtype (epithelial v other). Patients received gemcitabine 1,250 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 every 21 days, cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) every 21 days, and bevacizumab 15 mg/kg or placebo every 21 days for six cycles, and then bevacizumab or placebo every 21 days until progression. RESULTS One hundred fifteen patients were enrolled at 11 sites; 108 patients were evaluable. Median PFS time was 6.9 months for the bevacizumab arm and 6.0 months for the placebo arm (P = .88). Median overall survival (OS) times were 15.6 and 14.7 months in the bevacizumab and placebo arms, respectively (P = .91). Partial response rates were similar (24.5% for bevacizumab v 21.8% for placebo; P = .74). A higher pretreatment plasma VEGF concentration (n = 56) was associated with shorter PFS (P = .02) and OS (P = .0066), independent of treatment arm. There were no statistically significant differences in toxicity of grade 3 or greater. CONCLUSION The addition of bevacizumab to gemcitabine/cisplatin in this trial did not significantly improve PFS or OS in patients with advanced MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hedy L Kindler
- University of Chicago ComprehensiveCancer Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Van Cutsem E, de Haas S, Kang YK, Ohtsu A, Tebbutt NC, Ming Xu J, Peng Yong W, Langer B, Delmar P, Scherer SJ, Shah MA. Bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy as first-line therapy in advanced gastric cancer: a biomarker evaluation from the AVAGAST randomized phase III trial. J Clin Oncol 2012; 30:2119-27. [PMID: 22565005 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2011.39.9824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 351] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The AVAGAST study showed that adding bevacizumab to chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer improves progression-free survival and tumor response rate but not overall survival. To examine the hypothesis that angiogenic markers may have predictive value for bevacizumab efficacy in gastric cancer, AVAGAST included a prospective, mandatory biomarker program. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with previously untreated, locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer were randomly assigned to bevacizumab (n = 387) or placebo (n = 387) in combination with chemotherapy. Blood and tumor tissue samples were collected at baseline. Prespecified biomarkers included plasma vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), protein expression of neuropilin-1, and VEGF receptors-1 and -2 (VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2). Correlations between biomarkers and clinical outcomes were assessed by using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS Plasma was available from 712 patients (92%), and tumor samples were available from 727 patients (94%). Baseline plasma VEGF-A levels and tumor neuropilin-1 expression were identified as potential predictors of bevacizumab efficacy. Patients with high baseline plasma VEGF-A levels showed a trend toward improved overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.93) versus patients with low VEGF-A levels (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.77 to 1.31; interaction P = .07). Patients with low baseline expression of neuropilin-1 also showed a trend toward improved overall survival (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.97) versus patients with high neuropilin-1 expression (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.81 to 1.40; interaction P = .06). For both biomarkers, subgroup analyses demonstrated significance only in patients from non-Asian regions. CONCLUSION Plasma VEGF-A and tumor neuropilin-1 are strong biomarker candidates for predicting clinical outcome in patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with bevacizumab.
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Jubb AM, Miller KD, Rugo HS, Harris AL, Chen D, Reimann JD, Cobleigh MA, Schmidt M, Langmuir VK, Hillan KJ, Chen DS, Koeppen H. Impact of exploratory biomarkers on the treatment effect of bevacizumab in metastatic breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2011; 17:372-81. [PMID: 21224365 PMCID: PMC3023787 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-10-1791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The addition of bevacizumab to cytotoxic chemotherapy has demonstrated a progression-free survival (PFS) benefit in the first-line and second-line treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC). However, the addition of bevacizumab to capecitabine in heavily pretreated MBC patients did not show a PFS benefit (AVF2119g phase III trial). The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of novel putative biomarkers as predictors of benefit from bevacizumab in retrospective subset analyses of the AVF2119g trial. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In the AVF2119g trial, 462 patients with MBC were randomly assigned to receive capecitabine or capecitabine plus bevacizumab. Primary tumor tissue and outcome data were available for 223 patients. Biomarker expression was assessed by in situ hybridization (VEGF-A, VEGF-B, thrombospondin-2 and Flt4) or immunohistochemistry (VEGF-C, PDGF-C, neuropilin-1, delta-like ligand (Dll) 4, Bv8, p53 and thymidine phosphorylase) on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. PFS was associated with these variables in retrospective subset analyses. RESULTS Patients with low scores for Dll4, VEGF-C, and neuropilin-1 showed trends toward improvement in PFS associated with the addition of bevacizumab to capecitabine (P values = 0.01, 0.05, and 0.07, respectively). These observations were not statistically significant following correction for multiple hypothesis testing. CONCLUSION These retrospective subset analyses suggest that expression of Dll4, VEGF-C, and neuropilin-1 may predict benefit from bevacizumab. Such observations are not conclusive but warrant additional testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian M Jubb
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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Aoyagi Y, Iinuma H, Horiuchi A, Shimada R, Watanabe T. Association of plasma VEGF-A, soluble VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 levels and clinical response and survival in advanced colorectal cancer patients receiving bevacizumab with modified FOLFOX6. Oncol Lett 2010; 1:253-259. [PMID: 22966290 DOI: 10.3892/ol_00000045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2009] [Accepted: 12/11/2009] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
For individualized bevacizumab-based therapy, non-invasive biomarkers are necessary. This study assessed the predictive value of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, soluble VEGF receptor (sVEGFR)-1 and sVEGFR-2 levels as biomarkers for clinical response and survival in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) patients treated with bevacizumab and modified FOLFOX6 (mFOLFOX6). Forty-six unresectable advanced CRC patients and 20 healthy controls were included in this study. CRC patients were treated with bevacizumab and mFOLFOX6. Pretreatment plasma VEGF-A, sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2 levels were measured using the multiplex immunoassay. Plasma VEGF-A, sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2 levels were significantly higher in CRC patients than in the healthy subjects. The plasma sVEGFR-1 levels in the responder patients [complete response (CR)/partial response (PR)] and stable disease (SD) patients were significantly lower than those in the progressive disease (PD) patients (CR/PR vs. PD, p=0.025; SD vs. PD, p=0.032), while the plasma VEGF-A and sVEGFR-2 levels did not show any significant differences between the two groups of patients. Patients with higher sVEGFR-1 levels showed a significantly poorer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than those with lower VEGFR-1 levels. In contrast, VEGF-A and sVEGFR-2 did not show any significant relationship between PFS and OS according to the status of each level. In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, sVEGFR-1 levels showed a significant relationship between PFS and OS. These results suggest that plasma sVEGFR-1 levels have a predictive value for clinical response and survival in advanced CRC patients treated with bevacizumab and mFOLFOX6. Larger scale studies are needed to further validate our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiko Aoyagi
- Department of Surgery, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-0003, Japan
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Hanrahan EO, Ryan AJ, Mann H, Kennedy SJ, Langmuir P, Natale RB, Herbst RS, Johnson BE, Heymach JV. Baseline Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Concentration as a Potential Predictive Marker of Benefit from Vandetanib in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2009; 15:3600-9. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-08-2568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Ma J, Waxman DJ. Combination of antiangiogenesis with chemotherapy for more effective cancer treatment. Mol Cancer Ther 2009; 7:3670-84. [PMID: 19074844 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-08-0715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 249] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a hallmark of tumor development and metastasis and is now a validated target for cancer treatment. However, the survival benefits of antiangiogenic drugs have thus far been rather modest, stimulating interest in developing more effective ways to combine antiangiogenic drugs with established chemotherapies. This review discusses recent progress and emerging challenges in this field; interactions between antiangiogenic drugs and conventional chemotherapeutic agents are examined, and strategies for the optimization of combination therapies are discussed. Antiangiogenic drugs such as the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody bevacizumab can induce a functional normalization of the tumor vasculature that is transient and can potentiate the activity of coadministered chemoradiotherapies. However, chronic angiogenesis inhibition typically reduces tumor uptake of coadministered chemotherapeutics, indicating a need to explore new approaches, including intermittent treatment schedules and provascular strategies to increase chemotherapeutic drug exposure. In cases where antiangiogenesis-induced tumor cell starvation augments the intrinsic cytotoxic effects of a conventional chemotherapeutic drug, combination therapy may increase antitumor activity despite a decrease in cytotoxic drug exposure. As new angiogenesis inhibitors enter the clinic, reliable surrogate markers are needed to monitor the progress of antiangiogenic therapies and to identify responsive patients. New targets for antiangiogenesis continue to be discovered, increasing the opportunities to interdict tumor angiogenesis and circumvent resistance mechanisms that may emerge with chronic use of these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ma
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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Burstein HJ, Chen YH, Parker LM, Savoie J, Younger J, Kuter I, Ryan PD, Garber JE, Chen H, Campos SM, Shulman LN, Harris LN, Gelman R, Winer EP. VEGF as a Marker for Outcome Among Advanced Breast Cancer Patients Receiving anti-VEGF Therapy with Bevacizumab and Vinorelbine Chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 2008; 14:7871-7. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-08-0593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Kim GP. Predictive Markers in Colorectal Cancer. SEMINARS IN COLON AND RECTAL SURGERY 2008. [DOI: 10.1053/j.scrs.2008.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Abstract
Despite the large diffusion and rapid development of anti-VEGF therapy in clinical practice and in contrast to the consolidated evidence with imatinib and trastuzumab that demonstrated a direct correlation between pre-treatment target expression and drug activity, it is very difficult, at present, to identify validated and useful biomarkers to monitor the efficacy of these compounds and to appropriately select patients most likely to benefit from such treatments. However, emerging data suggest that this is not presently feasible for antiangiogenic drugs. Although tumoral and/or circulating VEGF levels have been associated with tumor progression and/or poor prognosis, to date, there is no validated evidence suggesting their role as potential predictive biomarkers of response to anti-VEGF therapy. Recently, many studies have documented promising results with the evaluation of circulating endothelial cells and/or progenitors, and the use of several imaging techniques, such as dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, PET, dynamic CT scan and functional ultrasound. These preliminary data need a validation in larger prospective trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Longo
- Division of Medical Oncology, 'San Filippo Neri' Hospital, Via Martinotti 20, 00135 Rome, Italy.
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Pfeiffer P, Qvortrup C, Eriksen JG. Current role of antibody therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Oncogene 2007; 26:3661-78. [PMID: 17530020 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1210377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In less than 10 years, the number and importance of non-surgical treatment modalities in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have increased dramatically, both in the adjuvant and the advanced settings. However, despite the improvement of cytotoxic therapy in CRC, many patients still develop progressive disease and unfortunately in patients with disease resistant to 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid, irinotecan and oxaliplatin, no effective cytotoxic therapy is known. The rapidly expanding knowledge in tumor biology has encouraged optimism for the possibility to find and target tumor-specific mechanisms and thereby increase both efficacy and tolerance. A great number of 'targeted drugs' are being tested in clinical trials and some of these new drugs, like bevacizumab, cetuximab and panitumumab, are available for routine use in health care. These new targeted drugs will expand the therapeutic arsenal in CRC to a great extent, but they will also add to the complexity of treatment of CRC. In this review, we summarize the current status of antibody therapy in patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Pfeiffer
- Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense C, Denmark.
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Abstract
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To update information concerning the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab, discuss side effects, and provide information on nursing management of the side effects. DATA SOURCES Published articles, abstracts, and research data. DATA SYNTHESIS In clinical trials, the addition of bevacizumab to standard chemotherapy increased survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and advanced non-small cell lung cancer and increased progression-free survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Bevacizumab also is being evaluated in combination with other targeted agents in various tumor types. Commonly reported side effects associated with bevacizumab include hypertension, proteinuria, and minor bleeding. CONCLUSIONS The value of bevacizumab in treating metastatic colorectal cancer has long been established. Clinical trial data have demonstrated the benefit of using bevacizumab in combination with standard chemotherapy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic breast cancer. Because of bevacizumab's expanding role in cancer treatment, nurses need to know how to use it, be aware of possible side effects, and anticipate interventions. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Nurses play an important role in the identification and management of adverse events associated with bevacizumab.
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Longo R, Gasparini G. Challenges for patient selection with VEGF inhibitors. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2007; 60:151-70. [PMID: 17370072 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-006-0403-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2006] [Accepted: 12/04/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
As targeted therapies for cancer become increasingly integrated into standard practice, appropriate selection of the patients most likely to benefit from these therapies is now receiving critical scrutiny. Early experience with therapies directed at targets that are definitively overactive (e.g. the bcr-abl tyrosine kinase targeted by imatinib) or over-expressed [e.g. the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeted by trastuzumab] has generated the perception that pre-treatment target assessment is a pre-requisite for therapy with all targeted agents. However, emerging evidence suggests that this is not presently feasible for anti-angiogenic agents. Despite considerable evidence for the association of intratumoral and/or plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels with tumor progression and/or poor prognosis, pre-treatment VEGF levels do not appear to be predictive of response to anti-angiogenic therapy. This may possibly be due to the complexity of the angiogenic pathways and the limitations associated with current methods of VEGF detection and quantification; e.g. low assay sensitivity and lack of standardized methods could prevent detection of very small increases in VEGF, which may be clinically important in patients with tumors that are highly dependent on this growth factor. In addition to a general lack of agreement as to the relative clinical relevance of circulating versus tumor VEGF levels, the absence of a 'gold standard' VEGF detection assay and the lack of a predefined, clinically relevant cut-off pose a significant hindrance to the clinical utility of VEGF measurements for therapy selection. Given the fundamental importance of angiogenesis for tumor growth and progression, and the key role of VEGF in these processes, presently it seems appropriate to view anti-VEGF agents such as bevacizumab (Avastin) as having potential utility, independently of pre-treatment screening. Further research is needed to define the relationship between potential surrogate markers of VEGF pathway activity and clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Longo
- Division of Medical Oncology, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Via Martinotti 20, 00135 Rome, Italy.
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Abstract
A high probability of benefit is desirable to justify the choice of anti-angiogenic therapy from an ever-expanding list of expensive new anticancer agents. However, biomarkers of response to cytotoxic agents are not optimal for predicting benefit from anti-angiogenic drugs. This discussion will focus on both preclinical and clinical research to identify biomarkers for anti-angiogenic therapies that can inform dosing, early clinical benefit, initial drug choice, emerging resistance and second-line treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian M Jubb
- Academic Unit of Pathology, Leeds Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, UK.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW A number of therapeutic agents have been developed which have anti-angiogenic potential. Here we present the most recent data from clinical trials with some of the promising inhibitors of angiogenesis. RECENT FINDINGS Agents that target the vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway are the furthest along in clinical development. The last year has brought US Food and Drug Administration approval of bevacizumab (Avastin), a recombinant humanized anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody. Bevacizumab has demonstrated a survival advantage in combination with chemotherapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Other agents with early promising results include PTK787/ZK 222584 (Vatalanib), ZD6474, and BAY 43-9006 (Sorafenib). SUMMARY Angiogenesis inhibitors show promise, but evaluation for optimal efficacy has been a problem, given that the mechanisms of action of these agents differ from conventional cytotoxic agents and surrogate markers for inhibition of angiogenesis are not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaadriana Zakarija
- Divison of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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