Prospective Feasibility Study of Amrubicin and Bevacizumab Therapy for Patients With Previously Treated Advanced NSCLC

Abstract

Background/aim: The efficacy of the combination of amrubicin and bevacizumab against advanced non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as a second or third-line treatment, was evaluated.

Patients and methods: Amrubicin was administered for 3 days to patients with previously treated advanced NSCLC, whereas bevacizumab was administered on day 1 of each cycle; this regimen was repeated every 3 weeks.

Results: Among the 16 patients, an overall response rate of 12.5% (for two patients) was achieved, and the overall disease control rate was 93.7%. Progression free survival and overall survival were 8.5 and 16.6 months, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 haematological toxicities were leukopenia, neutropenia, and febrile neutropenia. Grade 3 proteinuria and infection were the non haematological adverse events.

Conclusion: The combination of amrubicin and bevacizumab is a promising regimen in the second or third-line treatment for advanced non-squamous NSCLC; however, physicians must recognise the risk of proteinuria related with this regimen.

Keywords: Advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer; amrubicin; bevacizumab; efficacy; prospective study.