Addition of Avastin (Genentech) to conventional therapy improves survival in HER2-positive Breast Cancer

An independent review committee has revealed that the addition of Avastin (bevacizumab), from Genentech/Roche, to trastuzumab and docetaxel significantly improved progression-free survival in HER2-positive Breast Cancer, despite findings from an investigator assessment that the improvement was present but statistically non-significant. Results from AVEREL, a 426-patient Phase III trial designed to evaluate the drug combination as first-line therapy for HER2-positive, locally recurrent/metastatic Breast Cancer, revealed that at a median follow-up of 26 months, assessment revealed an 18 percent reduction in risk of progression or death with the addition of Avastin compared with that of patients who received only trastuzumab and docetaxel. However, an independent analysis found a 28 percent reduction in risk for progression or death with the addition of Avastin. Overall, median progression-free survival increased by 2.8 and 2.9 months with Avastin, according to investigator analysis and independent review committee analysis, respectively. The concept of this trial was a test for the benefit observed in early Phase I and Phase II. According to lead researcher Luca Gianni, director of medical oncology at the San Raffaele Cancer Center in Milano, the investigators must now search the subset of women who have the characteristics associated with benefit from addition of an anti-angiogenic. The results were presented at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.