Chemotherapy and Avastin for mesothelioma – pro
Avastin has been tesed in phase II in mesothelioma, usually in combinaiton. Results are not always positive. For example, a 2009 abstract concluded that adding Avsatin to Alimta and cisplatin does not improve PFS when compared with historical controls of PC in advanced MM pts.
The NCCN Guidelines recommends pemetrexed (Alimta®, Lilly USA, LLC) with cisplatin (Platinol®, Bristol-Myers Squibb) or carboplatin (Paraplatin®, Bristol-Myers Squibb), or gemcitabinecisplatin, premetrexed or vinorelbine as the optimal first-line chemotherapy regimen for patients. A few specific drugs are listed as second line options in the NCCN Guidelines: premeterexed, if not previously used, vinorelbine or gemcitabine.
J. Dowel, R. Taub, C. Lan, Y. Xie, F. Dunphy, V. Blake, H. Kindler; UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX; Columbia University, New York, NY; Duke University, Durham, NC; University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
A multicenter phase II study of pemetrexed (P), cisplatin (C), and bevacizumab (B) in patients (pts) with advanced malignant mesothelioma (MM).J Clin Oncol 27:15s, 2009 (suppl; abstr 7578)
nccn.org, Malignant pleural mesothelioma