Cisplatin, etoposide, and bevacizumab regimen followed by oral etoposide and bevacizumab maintenance treatment in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: A single-institution experience

Background In the present study we evaluated the efficacy and safety of a cisplatin (P), etoposide (E), and bevacizumab (Bev) regimen followed by maintenance oral E and Bev in patients with extensive-stage disease small-cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC). Patients and Methods Patients were administered 3-day fractionated P 25 mg/m2 and E 100 mg/m2 on days 1 to 3, every 3 weeks. After 3 PE cycles, all patients whose disease did not progress continued treatment with PE combined with Bev 15 mg/kg on day 3 every 3 weeks. After completion of 3 PE/Bev cycles, patients who did not experience tumor progression continued maintenance treatment with oral E 50 mg on days 1 to 14 every 21 days combined with Bev 3 times per week until occurrence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results At our institution, 22 patients were enrolled and their median age was 66 years (range, 38-79 years). After completion of induction chemotherapy (3 PE cycles with 3 PE/Bev cycles) the objective response rate was in 17 patients (77.2%) (95% confidence interval [CI], 54.6-92.1). Twenty-one patients received maintenance treatment with oral E and Bev. The 9-month disease control rate was 8 patients (36.3%). Median progression-free survival was 7.8 months (95% CI, 7.0-11.3 months) and median overall survival was 13.2 months (95% CI, 11.8-18.7 months). Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia occurred in 12 patients (54.4%) and 14 patients (63.6%) of patients during cycles 1 to 3 and cycles 4 to 6 of induction chemotherapy, respectively. Severe adverse events during maintenance treatment were rarely observed. Conclusion A PE and Bev regimen followed by oral E and Bev maintenance treatment appears feasible and effective in terms of 9-month disease control rate in patients with ED-SCLC.