How Avastin May Affect Your Cancer
Avastin is a first-of-its-kind cancer therapy that is approved with IV 5-FU–based chemotherapy for first- or-second-line treatment of MCRC to help you live longer. This combination of treatments provides 2 distinct ways of attacking your cancer. IV 5-FU–based chemotherapy works by attempting to destroy cancer cells by stopping them from growing or dividing. Avastin works by starving the tumor of what it needs to grow and spread. Because Avastin and IV 5-FU–based chemotherapy attack cancer in different ways, they are given together for a combined fight to help control your cancer and extend survival.
On average, people in clinical trials receiving Avastin plus IV 5-FU–based chemotherapy were more likely to
- Live longer than those who received chemotherapy alone
- Have a longer time before their tumors grew than those who received chemotherapy alone
- Have their tumors shrink by 50% or more, compared with those who received chemotherapy alone
While people benefited from combined treatment with Avastin plus IV 5-FU–based chemotherapy, there were also some side effects because both therapies may affect normal cells. It is important that you discuss with your health care team how to manage these or any other side effects of your cancer treatment.
What is the safety information for Avastin in MCRC?
In the first-line metastatic colorectal cancer trial, the most common severe to life-threatening side effects that increased by 2% or more in people who received Avastin plus IFL (chemotherapy) vs IFL (chemotherapy) alone were weakness (10% vs 7%), abdominal pain (8% vs 5%), pain (8% vs 5%), high blood pressure (12% vs 2%), blood clots in the veins of the body (9% vs 5%), blood clots inside the abdomen (3% vs 1%), a brief loss of consciousness (3% vs 1%), diarrhea (34% vs 25%), constipation (4% vs 2%), reduced white blood cell counts (37% vs 31%), and reduced white blood cell counts that may increase the chance of infection (21% vs 14%).
In the second-line metastatic colorectal cancer trial, the most common severe to life-threatening and fatal side effects that increased by 2% or more in people who received Avastin plus FOLFOX4 (chemotherapy) vs FOLFOX4 (chemotherapy) alone were diarrhea (18% vs 13%), nausea (12% vs 5%), vomiting (11% vs 4%), dehydration (10% vs 5%), blockage of the bowel (4% vs 1%), numbness and tingling in fingers and toes (17% vs 9%), nervous system disturbances (5% vs 3%), tiredness (19% vs 13%), abdominal pain (8% vs 5%), headache (3% vs 0%), high blood pressure (9% vs 2%), and severe bleeding (5% vs 1%).
