Positive results from Phase III trial of Avastin (Genentech/Roche) in elderly Colorectal Cancer patients

The results of the Phase III AVEX trial show that Avastin (bevacizumab), from Genentech/Roche, in combination with Xeloda (capecitabine) can significantly extend the time people aged over 70 live without their previously untreated advanced Bowel Cancer worsening - by 4 months - compared to Xeloda alone (median progression free survival of 9.1 months compared to 5.1 months respectively, HR =0 .53, p<0.001), reducing the risk of progression by 47.3 the new data also shows that older patients are able to tolerate avastin as an initial treatment after diagnosis without experiencing any new side effects.>

Median overall survival in those treated with Avastin and Xeloda was 20.7 compared with 16.8 months in those treated with Xeloda alone, although this difference was not statistically significant and not a primary endpoint of the trial. The PI on the study was Professor David Cunningham, Director of Clinical Research and Head of the Gastrointestinal Unit at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London. Data was presented at the Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium in San Francisco.