Abraxane and Avastin for lung cancer – pro
Lay Summary: One phase II study suggests high response rates for Abraxane and Avastin in nonsmall lung cancer.
The combination of Abraxane (albumin bound paclitaxel) and Paraplatin® (carboplatin) and Avastin (bevacizumab) provides responses or disease stabilization in over 75% of patients with chemotherapy-naïve, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These results were presented at the 2006 annual Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium.
Abraxane consists of the active ingredient paclitaxel, which is found in Taxol® and its generic equivalents. However, in the formulation of Abraxane, paclitaxel is delivered in a suspension of albumin particles, offering several advantages to Taxol and its generic equivalents, in which polyethoxylated castor oil (Cremophor EL) is used as the solvent for paclitaxel.
Results from previous studies have indicated that single-agent Abraxane is well tolerated and produces significant responses in patients with previously un-treated NSCLC. Researchers continue to evaluate Abraxane in combination with other chemotherapy agents, as well as targeted therapies for the treatment of NSCLC.
Results presented at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium were from a phase II open-label clinical trial including 50 chemotherapy-naïve advanced NSCLC patients. Treatment included Abraxane (300 mg/m2) and Paraplatin AUC 6 plus Avastin every 3 weeks. Avastin was not continued beyond 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy.
Confirmed responses were achieved in 26% of patients.
Disease stabilization was achieved in an additional 48% of patients.
Hemoptysis occurred in 6% if patients with 1 fatal event.
The researchers concluded that the treatment combination consisting of Abraxane, Paraplatin and Avastin provides responses or disease stabilization in a vast majority of patients with chemotherapy-naïve, advanced NSCLC. These results provide further evidence that Abraxane in combination with other agents is promising in the treatment of NSCLC.
Abraxane is in phase II studies with carboplatin in lung cancer.
Reynolds C, et al. Nab-Paclitaxel/Carboplatin/Bevacizumab in Advanced Non-Squamous NSCLC. Proceedings of the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XXIV. New York, New York. November 12, 2006.
nccn.org, lung cancer