Aflibercept Improves Survival in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Second-line aflibercept was superior to placebo after chemotherapy.

Thanks to progress in treatments for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), median survival now exceeds 2 years. However, until recently, no new active agents have been developed for mCRC beyond epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–targeted antibodies and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)–targeted agent bevacizumab. Now, investigators report the latest results of the industry-supported, international, randomized, phase III VELOUR trial of aflibercept, a recombinant fusion protein containing VEGF-binding portions of VEGF receptors 1 and 2 that leads to depletion of activating receptor ligands.

A total of 1226 patients with mCRC previously treated with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy received either FOLFIRI (5-fluorouracil [5-FU; 4…

Reviewing Author

David H. Ilson, MD, PhD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAstraZeneca; Merck; Taiho; Astellas; Bristol Myers Squibb; Regeneron; Oncolys; Amgen; Daiichi Sankyo

David H. Ilson, MD, PhD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAstraZeneca; Merck; Taiho; Astellas; Bristol Myers Squibb; Regeneron; Oncolys; Amgen; Daiichi Sankyo