Introduction
The authors describe the outcomes of the ARRIVE trial:
A. Outcomes Relevant to MDS Outcome was significant in favor of the Avastin arm at 18 months, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.36 (CI=0.31–0.42). Significantly greater survival was observed in both arms, with a median survival of 17.3 months compared to 8.0 months for placebo, p=0.001 (Figure 1). The hazard ratio for overall survival compare to placebo was 0.44 (CI=0.35–0.56) and was maintained at 18 months after stopping treatment, p<0.001; by 36 months, it increased to 0.61 (CI=0.49– 0 .74), suggesting a trend toward improved overall survival with Avastin but not in accordance with a general superiority of Avastin over placebo as would be expected from prior trials that have shown better results with this drug over chemotherapy alone [J Clin Oncol 2008]. A subgroup analysis by patient characteristics revealed no statistically significant differences between the two groups except that patients who were ≥65 years old had a higher likelihood of death in the Avastin group than those who received placebo [19% vs 15%; p = 0·04] [J Clin Oncol 2009;27:5181-90]. Overall mortality rates between groups are shown in Table 2 and Figure 1”.
Takeaway: In this study where Avastin did not outperform chemotherapy alone, there were no major changes seen among older adults after 6 years follow up even though these patients comprised only about 13% of all patients enrolled in the trial and <18% were 65 or older . Following standard protocol these results indicate that elderly patients may represent an insignificant proportion of eligible patients whose participation is necessary for obtaining meaningful results from studies assessing
MDS is a bone marrow disease that can lead to leukemia.
MDS is a bone marrow disease that can lead to leukemia. It’s also known as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and it affects the blood and bone marrow.
If you have MDS, your body makes too many immature white blood cells called lymphocytes—which fight infections—and too few mature white blood cells called platelets. This causes anemia and bleeding problems because there aren’t enough healthy blood cells circulating in your body.
The cause of MDS isn’t entirely clear but some research suggests genes play a role in developing this condition by causing mutations in genes responsible for producing proteins needed for normal cell function; these mutated genes may interfere with production or processing of certain proteins needed for normal functioning..
Avastin, also called bevacizumab, can help patients with MDS live longer and reduce the need for blood transfusions.
MDS is a bone marrow disease that can lead to leukemia. Avastin, also called bevacizumab, can help patients with MDS live longer and reduce the need for blood transfusions.
The FDA has not approved Avastin as a treatment for MDS.
The FDA has not approved Avastin as a treatment for MDS. Doctors use Avastin to treat other types of cancer, but they don’t know whether it will help patients with MDS.
In the future, doctors might be able to treat some types of cancer by using new drugs that are not made in a lab like Avastin. These drugs will work differently than traditional chemotherapy and might be safer for you because they don’t cause as many side effects. But these so-called targeted therapies won’t work in all cases, and they’re still being tested in clinical trials right now!
Doctors use Avastin to treat several types of cancer including colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, glioblastoma (a form of brain cancer), renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer), cervical cancer, ovarian cancer and fallopian tube cancer.
Doctors use Avastin to treat several types of cancer including colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, glioblastoma (a form of brain cancer), renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer), cervical cancer, ovarian cancer and fallopian tube cancer. If you have been diagnosed with MDS or another blood disorder such as aplastic anemia, talk to your doctor about whether Avastin may be right for you.
Talk to your doctor about whether Avastin may be right for you.
Talk to your doctor about whether Avastin may be right for you. Each situation is unique, and it’s important to talk about all of your options before making any decisions.
Ask if there are any other treatment options that would be better for you and your symptoms.
Ask if Avastin is safe for you and whether there are side effects to watch out for.
Ask about the cost of avastin and whether insurance will cover it (it’s sometimes covered by Medicare).
Conclusion
If you’re considering Avastin, talk to your doctor about whether it may be right for you. If you have MDS, it may help to know that there are other treatments available and that the disease can be managed.