Who says age matters? Bevacizumab (Avastin) is safe and effective for treating colorectal cancer in patients old and young

This study examined the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab (Avastin) for treating elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (cancer that has spread from the colon or rectum to distant sites).

Bevacizumab is an anti-cancer drug that blocks the formation of new blood vessels needed for the cancer to grow and spread. Combined with chemotherapy it is a standard first treatment option for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

The majority of patients with colorectal cancer are diagnosed after the age of 65. Despite this, older patients are often excluded from clinical trials. As a result it is unclear whether bevacizumab is as safe and effective in older patients as it is in younger patients. 

This study analyzed the medical records from 3187 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. All patients had received chemotherapy and bevacizumab as their first treatment. The patients were divided into 3 groups based on their age. 2126 patients were younger than 65, 932 patients were aged 65 to 75, and 129 patients were older than 75. Patients’ overall survival time (time until death from any cause) and progression free survival time (time until the disease progressed after starting treatment) were assessed. The rates of adverse events were also assessed.

Patient age did not affect overall survival or progression free survival. On average patients younger than 65 progressed after 11.4 months, patients aged 65 to 75 progressed after 11.3 months, and patients older than 75 progressed after 11.8 months. Average survival time was 26.9 months for patients younger than 65, 27.5 months for patients aged 65 to 75, and 25.1 months for patients older than 75.

The rate of hypertension was higher in patients aged over 75 (7.8%) compared to patients younger than 65 (3.3%) or patients aged 65-75 (3.6%). However, there was no difference in the rate of any other adverse events between the different age groups. 

The authors concluded that bevacizumab is as effective in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer that are fit for treatment as it is in younger patients.