Avastin Shows Promise in Treating Deadly Brain Cancer as Part of Combination Therapy

Phase III clinical trials conducted by Roche revealed that combining Avastin with radiation and temozolomide chemotherapy could slow down the progression of cancer in patients who are newly diagnosed with glioblastoma.

According to the results from the AVAglio study, providing a combination therapy of Avastin, radiation and temozolomide chemotherapy for over a six week period followed Avastin and temozolomide for up to six cycles after a four week break and then giving Avastin alone reduced the risk of worsening of the disease or death by 36 percent while the progression free survival period increased by 56 percent, or 4.4 months compared to those who received radiation and chemotherapy plus placebo.

Says Hal Barron, chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development, "People with newly diagnosed glioblastoma have few treatment options and need new medicines. An important outcome from the AVAglio study was that patients who received Avastin plus radiation and chemotherapy lived significantly longer without their disease getting worse, and we plan to discuss these data with regulatory authorities."



Source: Medindia