Affiliations: [a] Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Clinical Department of Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center, Saitama, Japan | [b] Department of Respiratory Medicine, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Nobuyuki Koyama, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Clinical Department of Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center, 1-847 Amanuma-cho, Omiya-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama 330-8503, Japan. Tel.: +81 48 647 2111; Fax: +81 48 5188; E-mail: nkoyama@jichi.ac.jp.
Abstract: Background:Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that provides a survival benefit to patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the treatment is sometimes accompanied by life-threatening bleeding events, and studies have not yet identified factors that can predict outcomes for NSCLC patients receiving bevacizumab. Methods:To identify prognostic factors for patients with NSCLC who are undergoing bevacizumab therapy, this study retrospectively investigated 34 consecutive patients with NSCLC treated with bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy. Results:Adverse cardiovascular events, including hypertension and bleeding events, during bevacizumab therapy were observed in 18 patients (53%). Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and log-rank tests revealed that median overall survival was significantly better in patients who experienced adverse cardiovascular events than those who did not (442 versus 304 days; P=0.012). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, the onset of adverse cardiovascular events was independently associated with a better overall survival. Conclusions:The onset of adverse cardiovascular events during bevacizumab therapy may be a favorable prognostic factor for patients with NSCLC. The results of this retrospective study warrant further large-scale prospective trials.
