Bevacizumab Combined With Chemotherapy for Platinum-Resistant Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: The AURELIA Open-Label Randomized Phase III Trial

What it’s about

Bevacizumab is a drug that targets a protein found in cancer cells called vascular endotheial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF helps cancer cells develop and maintain their own blood supply. This study looked at the effect of bevacizumab in women with recurrent ovarian cancer less than six months after initial treatment (platinum-resistant disease).


Trial description

This paper looks at progression free survival (survival without disease progression) in a group of 361 women with recurrent ovarian cancer who were randomised to receive single agent chemotherapy and bevacizumab compared to single agent chemotherapy only. This study only included women who experienced a recurrence of their disease less than six months after initial treatment (platinum-resistant disease).


Outcome

Progression free survival was increased by three months in the women that received bevacizumab and chemotherapy.


Conclusion

Adding bevacizumab to chemotherapy significantly improved progression free survival in women with ovarian cancer that recurred less than six months after initial treatment.