Health-related quality of life impact of bevacizumab when combined with irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin or 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin for metastatic colorectal cancer

Oncologist. 2008 Sep;13(9):1021-9. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2008-0003. Epub 2008 Sep 5.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the time to deterioration in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer receiving a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy regimen with or without the addition of bevacizumab (BV) in two randomized, placebo-controlled studies.

Patients and methods: Prespecified HRQoL endpoints in the phase II (Study 2192) and phase III (Study 2107) studies were time to deterioration in HRQoL, measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C) Colorectal Cancer Subscale (CCS), Trial Outcome Index (TOI-C), and FACT-C total score. Time to deterioration in HRQoL was evaluated for patients with baseline and postbaseline assessments, using the stratified log-rank test.

Results: In the pivotal phase III trial, HRQoL baseline and postbaseline CCS scores were available for 127 patients receiving irinotecan, 5-FU, and leucovorin (LV) (IFL) and 122 patients receiving IFL plus BV. The time to deterioration in HRQoL did not differ significantly between treatment groups as measured by the CCS, TOI-C, or FACT-C total score. In the phase II study, baseline and postbaseline CCS scores were available for 77 and 89 patients receiving 5-FU and LV and 5-FU and LV plus BV, respectively. In that study, the time to deterioration in HRQoL was similar between groups as measured by the CCS and TOI-C scores, but was significantly longer in the 5-FU and LV plus BV arm than in the 5-FU and LV plus placebo arm for the FACT-C total score.

Conclusions: When added to 5-FU chemotherapy, BV significantly prolonged overall survival and progression-free survival without compromising HRQoL.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Clinical Trial, Phase III
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Bevacizumab
  • Camptothecin / administration & dosage
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Irinotecan
  • Leucovorin / administration & dosage
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Bevacizumab
  • Irinotecan
  • Leucovorin
  • Fluorouracil
  • Camptothecin