Bevacizumab plus oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment for colon cancer (CC): Updated analysis of stage II disease from the AVANT phase III randomized trial by the GERCOR group

Abstract

Background: The AVANT study did not demonstrate disease-free survival (DFS) benefit of the addition of bevacizumab to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in stage III resected CC and suggested a potential detrimental effect on overall survival (OS) (A. de Gramont et al. Lancet Oncol. 2012). Here, we present the results of the AVANT study for stage II CC patients. Method(s): The primary endpoint of AVANT was DFS for stage III disease. As an exploratory measure, AVANT also included high-risk stage II CC defined by T4, bowel obstruction or perforation, blood and/or lymphatic vascular invasion and/or perineural invasion, age Method(s): The primary endpoint of AVANT was DFS for stage III disease. As an exploratory measure, AVANT also included high-risk stage II CC defined by T4, bowel obstruction or perforation, blood and/or lymphatic vascular invasion and/or perineural invasion, age Result(s): 573 patients had stage II CC (arm A: FOLFOX4, n = 192; arm B: FOLFOX4-bevacizumab, n = 194; arm C: XELOX-bevacizumab, n = 187), of whom 38 (19.8%) in arm A, 36 (18.6%) in arm B, and 40 (21.4%) in arm C had relapsed, developed a new CC, or died after a median follow-up of 6.86 years (IQR: 6.13-11.34). The DFS hazard-ratio was 0.94 (95% CI 0.59-1.48; P = 0.78) for arm B vs arm A and 1.07 (95% CI 0.69-1.67; P = 0.76) for arm C vs arm A. The OS hazard ratio was 0.92 (95% CI 0.55-1.55; P = 0.76) for arm B vs arm A and 0.85 (95% CI 0.50-1.44; P = 0.55) for arm C vs arm A. Safety data of stage II and stage III CC have been reported previously. In multivariable analysis, T4 vs T3-1 (P = 0.041), number of examined nodes (P = 0.005), and age (P = 0.0008) were prognostic for DFS. The 3-year DFS and 5-year OS rates of stage II were 88.2% (95% CI 83.7%-93.0%) and 89.7% (95% CI 85.4%-94.2%) in arm A, 86.6% (95% CI 81.8%-91.6%) and 89.7% (95% CI 85.4%-94.2%) in arm B, 86.7% (95% CI 81.8%-91.8%) and 93.2% (95% CI 89.6%-97.0%) in arm C, respectively. Conclusion(s): In this exploratory analysis, bevacizumab did not prolong DFS and OS when added to adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in resected high-risk stage II patients with CC. Clinical trial identification: NCT00112918. Editorial acknowledgement: Magdalena Benetkiewicz (GERCOR). Legal entity responsible for the study: GERCOR. Funding(s): Roche. Disclosure: A. De Gramont: Honoraria (self): Yakult; Honoraria (self): Chugai Pharma. T.W. Kim: Research grant / Funding (self): Merck Serono; Research grant / Funding (self): Pfizer; Research grant / Funding (self): AstraZeneca. J. Gallego-Plazas: Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Amgen; Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: Bayer; Advisory / Consultancy: Lilly; Advisory / Consultancy: Celgene; Advisory / Consultancy: Merck; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Novartis; Leadership role, Study Coordinator of Agamenon study in advanced gastric cancer: Agamenon study. A. Cervantes: Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck Serono; Advisory / Consultancy: Amgen; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Servier; Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Lilly; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Takeda; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Astellas; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche Beigene; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Bayer; Advisory / Consultancy: Foundation Medicine; Research grant / Funding (institution): Genentech; Research grant / Funding (institution): Fibrogen; Research grant / Funding (institution): Amcure; Research grant / Funding (institution): Sierra Oncology; Research grant / Funding (institution): AstraZeneca; Research grant / Funding (institution): Medimmune; Research grant / Funding (institution): BMS; Research grant / Funding (institution): MSD; Leadership role, Executive Board member of ESMO: not remunerated Chair of Education of ESMO: not remunerated General and Scientific Director of INCLIVA: not remunerated Associate Editor of ESMO Open: not remunerated Associate Editor of Annals of Oncology: remunerated Editor in Chief of Cancer Treatment Reviews: remunerated: Executive Board member of ESMO: not remunerated Chair of Education of ESMO: not remunerated General and Scientific Director of INCLIVA: not remunerated Associate Editor of ESMO Open: not remunerated Associate Editor of Annals of Oncology: remunerated. D.J. Jonker: Research grant / Funding (institution): Hoffman-La Roche; Non-remunerated activity/ies, Chair of the GI Disease Site Committee of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group: Canadian Cancer Trials Group. A. Dewdney: Honoraria (self), Chairing evening meetings: Servier; Honoraria (self): Roche. T. (Sirisingha) Dejthevaporn: Honoraria (self): Roche; Honoraria (self): Eisai; Honoraria (self): Pfizer; Honoraria (self): AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self): Eli Lilly; Leadership role: Thai Society of Clinical Oncology (TSCO). M. Moehler: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Merck; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Pfizer; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Amgen; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Bayer; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Roche. T. Andre: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Amgen; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: BMS; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: MSD Oncology; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Roche/Ventana; Honoraria (self): Sanofi; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Servier; Honoraria (self): Chugai; Honoraria (self): Yakult; Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy: HalioDx. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.Copyright © 2019 European Society for Medical Oncology