Last Updated: 04/06/07
Benefit of Antiangiogenic Therapy in Patients with Breast Cancer
Recent clinical trials have shown that anti-angiogenesis drugs— those that inhibit blood vessel growth— can slow progression of colon and lung cancers. Recent preliminary results from a CTEP-sponsored study reveal that the antiangiogenesis drug bevacizumab (Avastin®) has the same effect on recurrent or metastatic breast cancers when combined with the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel (Taxol®).
This study is the first to find a benefit of antiangiogenic therapy in patients with breast cancer and represents a major advance in the treatment of patients with metastatic disease. These results come from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group clinical trial E2100, which studied 722 women.
Bevacizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody approved by FDA to treat metastatic colorectal cancer when combined with chemotherapy. It works by blocking a tumor-released molecule called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The drug is manufactured by Genentech, Inc., and provided for use in this clinical trial through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with CTEP.
Women in the E2100 trial were randomized to receive paclitaxel either alone or in combination with bevacizumab. On average, those who received the combination saw no worsening of their disease for four months longer than those who received only the paclitaxel.
Miller KD, Wang M, Gralow J, Dickler M, Cobleigh MA, Perez EA, Shenkier TN, Davidson NE. Bevacizumab (anti-angiogenesis) in locally recurrent/metastatic breast cancer. Presented at: Advances in Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for Breast Cancer Scientific Symposium, ASCO Annual Meeting. May 13–17, 2005. Orlando, FL.
