OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of patients receiving bevacizumab plus first-line metastatic chemotherapy for non-squamous advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC), with or without brain metastases, in routine clinical practice. Other objectives were to describe treatment efficacy, modalities of use, and safety.
METHODS: For this non-interventional, prospective, national, multicentre study, data were collected every 3 months over 18 months.
RESULTS: Of the 407 patients analysed, 84 (21%) with brain metastases at bevacizumab initiation had poorer general health than patients with no brain metastases (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] performance status score = 2: 16 vs. 11%). All but 2 patients received bevacizumab (7.5 or 15 mg/kg/3 weeks in 99% of patients) in combination with doublet chemotherapy. Median progression-free survival and overall survival did not differ significantly between patients with or without brain metastases (6.5 months, 95% CI 5.7-8.1 vs. 6.9 months, 95% CI 5.9-7.6, p = 0.57; 14.5 months, 95% CI 10.0 vs. 12.5 months, 95% CI 10.1-14.7, p = 0.33). In 30 and 32% of the patients, respectively, at least one serious adverse event was reported, with a causal relationship to bevacizumab in 20 and 21% of the patients.
CONCLUSION: This study confirmed in a real-life setting the safety profile and survival benefits of first-line chemotherapy with bevacizumab in aNSCLC patients with brain metastases.