Bevacizumab Effective in Elderly Patients with Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Elderly patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) may have diminished tolerance for combination chemotherapy. But, prospective data are lacking regarding the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy or targeted agents for these patients.

Now, investigators have conducted an industry-sponsored, international, randomized, open-label, phase III trial (AVEX) of capecitabine chemotherapy with or without the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)–targeted agent bevacizumab in 280 elderly CRC patients (median age, 76; range, 70–87). Eligible patients had previously untreated, unresectable, metastatic disease deemed unsuitable for multiagent chemotherapy. Patients received capecitabine (1000 mg/m² twice daily for 14 days) alone or in combination with beva…