(2014) Adjuvant bevacizumab in patients with melanoma at high risk of recurrence (AVAST-M) : preplanned interim results from a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled phase 3 study. The Lancet Oncology, Volume 15 (Number 6). pp. 620-630. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(14)70110-X

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Abstract

Background:
Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets VEGF, has shown restricted activity in patients with advanced melanoma. We aimed to assess the role of bevacizumab as adjuvant treatment for patients with resected melanoma at high risk of recurrence. We report results from the preplanned interim analysis.
Methods:
We did a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled phase 3 trial at 48 centres in the UK between July 18, 2007, and March 29, 2012. Patients aged 16 years or older with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (AJCC) stage IIB, IIC, and III cutaneous melanoma were randomly allocated (1:1), via a central, computer-based minimisation procedure, to receive intravenous bevacizumab 7·5 mg/kg, every 3 weeks for 1 year, or to observation. Randomisation was stratified by Breslow thickness of the primary tumour, N stage according to AJCC staging criteria, ulceration of the primary tumour, and patient sex. The primary endpoint was overall survival; secondary endpoints included disease-free interval, distant-metastases interval and quality of life. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. This trial is registered as an International Standardised Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN81261306.
Findings:
1343 patients were randomised to either the bevacizumab group (n=671) or the observation group (n=672). Median follow-up was 25 months (IQR 16—37) in the bevacizumab group and 25 months (17—37) in the observation group. At the time of interim analysis, 286 (21%) of 1343 enrolled patients had died: 140 (21%) of 671 patients in the bevacizumab group, and 146 (22%) of 672 patients in the observation group. 134 (96%) of patients in the bevacizumab group died because of melanoma versus 139 (95%) in the observation group. We noted no significant difference in overall survival between treatment groups (hazard ratio [HR] 0·97, 95% CI 0·78—1·22; p=0·76); this finding persisted after adjustment for stratification variables (HR 1·03; 95% CI 0·81—1·29; p=0·83). Median duration of treatment with bevacizumab was 51 weeks (IQR 21—52) and dose intensity was 86% (41—96), showing good tolerability. 180 grade 3 or 4 adverse events were recorded in 101 (15%) of 671 patients in the bevacizumab group, and 36 (5%) of 672 patients in the observation group. Bevacizumab resulted in a higher incidence of grade 3 hypertension than did observation (41 [6%] vs one [<1%]). There was an improvement in disease-free interval for patients in the bevacizumab group compared with those in the observation group (HR 0·83, 95% CI 0·70—0·98, p=0·03), but no significant difference between groups for distant-metastasis-free interval (HR 0·88, 95% CI 0·73—1·06, p=0·18). No significant differences were noted between treatment groups in the standardised area under the curve for any of the quality-of-life scales over 36 months. Three adverse drug reactions were regarded as both serious and unexpected: one patient had optic neuritis after the first bevacizumab infusion, a second patient had persistent erectile dysfunction, and a third patient died of a haemopericardium after receiving two bevacizumab infusions and was later identified to have had significant predisposing cardiovascular risk factors.
Interpretation:
Bevacizumab has promising tolerability. Longer follow-up is needed to identify an effect on the primary endpoint of overall survival at 5 years.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer)
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Bevacizumab, Melanoma -- Treatment
Journal or Publication Title:	The Lancet Oncology
Publisher:	The Lancet Publishing Group
ISSN:	1470-2045
Official Date:	16 April 2014
Dates:	Date Event 16 April 2014 Available
Volume:	Volume 15
Number:	Number 6
Page Range:	pp. 620-630
DOI:	10.1016/S1470-2045(14)70110-X
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	National Institute for Health Research (Great Britain) (NIHR), Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
Grant number:	C7535/A6408 (CRUK), C2195/A8466 (CRUK)

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