Preoperative bevacizumab combined with letrozole and chemotherapy in locally advanced ER- and/or PgR-positive breast cancer: clinical and biological activity
2008

Preoperative Bevacizumab for ER-Positive Breast Cancer

Sample size: 36 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Torrisi R, Bagnardi V, Cardillo A, Bertolini F, Scarano E, Orlando L, Mancuso P, Luini A, Calleri A, Viale G, Goldhirsch A, Colleoni M

Primary Institution: European Institute of Oncology Milan

Hypothesis

Does the combination of bevacizumab, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy improve clinical outcomes in patients with ER-positive breast cancer?

Conclusion

The combination of bevacizumab, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy resulted in a high clinical response rate and significantly reduced tumor proliferation in ER-positive breast cancer patients.

Supporting Evidence

  • 86% clinical response rate was observed in the study.
  • Ki67, a marker of tumor proliferation, decreased by 71% after treatment.
  • Two grade 3 hypertension and four grade 3 deep venous thrombosis cases were reported, indicating manageable toxicity.

Takeaway

This study found that a treatment combining a drug called bevacizumab with chemotherapy and hormone therapy helped many women with a specific type of breast cancer get better.

Methodology

Patients received capecitabine, vinorelbine, and bevacizumab along with letrozole, and their tumor responses were evaluated based on clinical and biological endpoints.

Potential Biases

Potential biases may arise from the single-institution study design and the lack of a control group.

Limitations

The study had a small sample size and was not designed to assess long-term outcomes.

Participant Demographics

Median age was 44 years; 69% were premenopausal and 31% postmenopausal.

Statistical Information

P-Value

<0.0001

Confidence Interval

95% CI, 70–95

Statistical Significance

p<0.0001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/sj.bjc.6604741

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