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Bevacizumab and Paclitaxel Yield Promising Results in Patients Exposed to Multiple Breast Cancer Treatment Regimens: Presented at SABCS

By Paula Moyer

SAN DIEGO, CA -- December 19, 2006 -- Breast cancer patients whose disease has been resistant to multiple chemotherapy agents may have good responses to a combination of bevacizumab (Avastin) and paclitaxel (Taxol), according to findings presented here at the 29^th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).

"This combination was very active in women with heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer," said principal investigator John S. Link, MD, medical director, Breastlink Medical Group, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Long Beach, California. "We documented an objective response rate of 59%, consisting of both complete and partial responses."

The study involved 27 consecutive women with metastatic breast cancer, who received albumin-bound paclitaxel at a dose ranging from 80 to 125 mg/m² day on days 1, 8, and 15, or 170 to 200 mg/m² every 14 days, each on a 28 day cycle. They also received 10 mg/kg of bevacizumab at a dose of 10 mg/kg every 14 days. The women received at least 2 courses of the study regimen.

Three patients (11%) had a complete response and 13 (48%) had a partial response, while 7 patients had stable disease and 4 progressed.

Toxicity was acceptable, Dr. Link said. One patient withdrew due to possible hemorrhage into a metastatic brain lesion. Two patients had elevated liver transaminases; 2 patients had an increase in blood pressure that required antihypertensive medication; and 1 had a grade 3 rash with desquamation.

The findings showed that the regimen is well tolerated and active in patients with very difficult-to-treat breast cancer, Dr. Link said in a presentation on December 14^th.

The study was funded by Genetech, which manufactures Avastin.


[Presentation title: Bevacizumab (Avastin) And Albumin Bound Paclitaxel (Abraxane) Treatment In Metastatic Breast Cancer. Abstract 1095]

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