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Avastin dosing and administration in first- and second-line MCRC

Avastin is approved in combination with IV 5-FU–containing chemotherapy.

Evidence-based dosing

In clinical trials in first- and second-line MCRC, survival benefits were achieved with Avastin administered until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity and at the approved dose.1,2

Established Avastin doses in pivotal Phase III MCRC trials1

Avastin dosing in MCRC clinical trials

  • *5 mg/kg IV q2w dose evaluated in first-line MCRC in combination with IFL.
  • †10 mg/kg IV q2w dose evaluated in second-line MCRC in combination with FOLFOX4.

Important treatment considerations—Women of childbearing potential

  • Avastin increases the risk of ovarian failure and may impair fertility
  • Inform females of reproductive potential of the risk of ovarian failure prior to starting treatment with Avastin
  • Long-term effects of Avastin exposure on fertility are unknown
  • Prior to initiation of therapy, advise patients of the potential risk of Avastin to the developing fetus
  • Counsel patients who become pregnant about the possible risks, including hazard to the fetus and/or loss of pregnancy, of both continued treatment and prolonged exposure following discontinuation, keeping in mind the approximate half-life of Avastin (20 days; range 11–50 days). Patients should also be counseled to continue adequate contraception for at least 6 months following the last dose of Avastin
  • Nursing mothers should be advised to discontinue nursing or Avastin, taking into account the half-life of the product and the importance of Avastin to the mother

Duration of Avastin treatment1-3‡

MCRC
Avastin Efficacy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer - MCRC trial protocols

  • ‡In first- and second-line MCRC, Avastin is indicated in combination with IV 5-FU–containing chemotherapy.1

 

FDA-approved prescribing information for the duration of Avastin treatment

Important treatment considerations—Dose modifications

  • There are no recommended dose reductions
  • Discontinue Avastin in patients with
    • Gastrointestinal (GI) perforations (GI perforations, fistula formation in the GI tract, intra-abdominal abscess)
    • Fistula formation involving an internal organ
    • Wound dehiscence and wound healing complications requiring medical intervention
    • Serious hemorrhage (ie, requiring medical intervention)
    • Severe arterial thromboembolic event (ATE)
    • Hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy
    • Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) (symptoms usually resolve or improve within days, although some patients have experienced ongoing neurologic sequelae)
    • Nephrotic syndrome
  • Temporarily suspend Avastin for at least 4 weeks prior to elective surgery, severe hypertension not controlled with medical management, moderate to severe proteinuria pending further evaluation, and severe infusion reactions
  • The safety of resumption of Avastin therapy in patients that experienced RPLS, ATE, and moderate to severe proteinuria is unknown

Preparation for administration1

  • Avastin should be diluted for infusion using aseptic technique

  • Withdraw the necessary amount of Avastin to obtain the required dose and dilute in a total volume of 100 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP

  • Discard any unused portion left in a vial, as the product contains no preservatives. Inspect visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration

  • Diluted Avastin solutions for infusion may be stored at 2°C–8°C (36°F–46°F) for up to 8 hours

  • Avastin infusions should not be administered or mixed with dextrose solution

Administration and infusion times1

Avastin Administration

  • DO NOT ADMINISTER AS AN IV PUSH OR BOLUS

  • DO NOT INITIATE AVASTIN UNTIL AT LEAST 28 DAYS FOLLOWING SURGERY AND UNTIL THE SURGICAL WOUND IS FULLY HEALED

  • In clinical trials, infusion reactions with the first dose of Avastin were uncommon (<3%), and severe reactions occurred in 0.2% of patients

  • Infusion reactions in clinical trials and in postmarketing experience include hypertension, hypertensive crises associated with neurologic signs and symptoms, wheezing, oxygen desaturation, NCI-CTC grade 3 hypersensitivity, chest pain, headaches, rigors, and diaphoresis

  • Stop infusion if a severe adverse reaction occurs and administer appropriate medical therapy

  • NCI-CTC=National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria.

Stability and storage1

Avastin vials must be refrigerated at 2°C–8°C (36°F–46°F). Avastin vials should be protected from light. Store in the original carton until time of use. DO NOT FREEZE. DO NOT SHAKE.

Indication

Avastin is indicated for the first- or second-line treatment of patients with metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum in combination with intravenous 5-fluorouracil–based chemotherapy.

Boxed WARNINGS
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) perforation
    • Serious and sometimes fatal GI perforation occurs at a higher incidence in Avastin-treated patients compared to controls
    • The incidences of GI perforation ranged from 0.3% to 2.4% across clinical studies
    • Discontinue Avastin in patients with GI perforation
  • Surgery and wound healing complications
    • The incidence of wound healing and surgical complications, including serious and fatal complications, is increased in Avastin-treated patients
    • Do not initiate Avastin for at least 28 days after surgery and until the surgical wound is fully healed. The appropriate interval between termination of Avastin and subsequent elective surgery required to reduce the risks of impaired wound healing/wound dehiscence has not been determined
    • Discontinue Avastin at least 28 days prior to elective surgery and in patients with wound healing complications requiring medical intervention
  • Hemorrhage
    • Severe or fatal hemorrhage, including hemoptysis, GI bleeding, hematemesis, central nervous system hemorrhage, epistaxis, and vaginal bleeding, occurred up to 5-fold more frequently in patients receiving Avastin. Across indications, the incidence of grade ≥3 hemorrhagic events among patients receiving Avastin ranged from 1.2% to 4.6%
    • Do not administer Avastin to patients with serious hemorrhage or recent hemoptysis (≥1/2 tsp of red blood)
    • Discontinue Avastin in patients with serious hemorrhage (ie, requiring medical intervention)
Additional serious adverse events
  • Additional serious and sometimes fatal adverse events with increased incidence in the Avastin-treated arm vs control included
    • Non-GI fistula formation (≤0.3%)
    • Arterial thromboembolic events (grade ≥3, 2.4%)
    • Proteinuria including nephrotic syndrome (<1%)
  • Additional serious adverse events with increased incidence in the Avastin-treated arm vs control included
    • Hypertension (grade 3–4, 5%–18%)
    • Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) (<0.1%)
  • Infusion reactions with the first dose of Avastin were uncommon (<3%), and severe reactions occurred in 0.2% of patients
  • Inform females of reproductive potential of the risk of ovarian failure prior to starting treatment with Avastin
Most common adverse events
  • Most common adverse reactions observed in Avastin patients at a rate >10% and at least twice the control arm rate were
    – Epistaxis
    – Headache
    – Hypertension
    – Rhinitis
    – Proteinuria
    – Taste alteration
    – Dry skin
    – Rectal hemorrhage
    – Lacrimation disorder
    – Back pain
    – Exfoliative dermatitis
  • Across all studies, Avastin was discontinued in 8.4% to 21% of patients because of adverse reactions
Pregnancy warning
  • Avastin may impair fertility
  • Based on animal data, Avastin may cause fetal harm
  • Advise patients of the potential risk to the fetus during and following Avastin and the need to continue adequate contraception for at least 6 months following the last dose of Avastin
  • For nursing mothers, discontinue nursing or Avastin, taking into account the importance of Avastin to the mother
  • In first-line MCRC, the most common grade 3–4 events in Study 2107, which occurred at a ≥2% higher incidence in the Avastin plus IFL vs IFL groups, were asthenia (10% vs 7%), abdominal pain (8% vs 5%), pain (8% vs 5%), hypertension (12% vs 2%), deep vein thrombosis (9% vs 5%), intra-abdominal thrombosis (3% vs 1%), syncope (3% vs 1%), diarrhea (34% vs 25%), constipation (4% vs 2%), leukopenia (37% vs 31%), and neutropenia (21% vs 14%)
  • In second-line MCRC, the most common grade 3–5 (nonhematologic) and 4–5 (hematologic) events in Study E3200, which occurred at a higher incidence (≥2%) in the Avastin plus FOLFOX4 vs FOLFOX4 groups, were diarrhea (18% vs 13%), nausea (12% vs 5%), vomiting (11% vs 4%), dehydration (10% vs 5%), ileus (4% vs 1%), neuropathy–sensory (17% vs 9%), neurologic–other (5% vs 3%), fatigue (19% vs 13%), abdominal pain (8% vs 5%), headache (3% vs 0%), hypertension (9% vs 2%), and hemorrhage (5% vs 1%)

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS, for additional important safety information.

Next: MCRC Resources

References:
  1. Avastin Prescribing Information. Genentech, Inc. September 2011.
  2. Hurwitz H, Fehrenbacher L, Novotny W, et al. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:2335-2342.
  3. Giantonio BJ, Catalano PJ, Meropol NJ, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2007;25:1539-1544.