Publication

Neoadjuvant bevacizumab and anthracycline-taxane-based chemotherapy in 678 triple-negative primary breast cancers; results from the geparquinto study (GBG 44)

Journal Paper/Review - Oct 17, 2013

Units
PubMed
Doi

Citation
Gerber B, Jackisch C, Kunz G, Blohmer J, Huober J, Hauschild M, Nekljudova V, Untch M, von Minckwitz G, Solbach C, Kreienberg R, Hanusch C, Loibl S, Eidtmann H, Rezai M, Fasching P, Tesch H, Eggemann H, Schrader I, Kittel K, German Breast Group Investigators. Neoadjuvant bevacizumab and anthracycline-taxane-based chemotherapy in 678 triple-negative primary breast cancers; results from the geparquinto study (GBG 44). Ann Oncol 2013; 24:2978-84.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
Ann Oncol 2013; 24
Publication Date
Oct 17, 2013
Issn Electronic
1569-8041
Pages
2978-84
Brief description/objective

BACKGROUND
We evaluated the pathological complete response (pCR) rate after neoadjuvant epirubicin, (E) cyclophosphamide (C) and docetaxel containing chemotherapy with and without the addition of bevacizumab in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients with untreated cT1c-4d TNBC represented a stratified subset of the 1948 participants of the HER2-negative part of the GeparQuinto trial. Patients were randomized to receive four cycles EC (90/600 mg/m(2); q3w) followed by four cycles docetaxel (100 mg/m(2); q3w) each with or without bevacizumab (15 mg/kg; q3w) added to chemotherapy.

RESULTS
TNBC patients were randomized to chemotherapy without (n = 340) or with bevacizumab (n = 323). pCR (ypT0 ypN0, primary end point) rates were 27.9% without and 39.3% with bevacizumab (P = 0.003). According to other pCR definitions, the addition of bevacizumab increased the pCR rate from 30.9% to 41.8% (ypT0 ypN0/+; P = 0.004), 36.2% to 46.4% (ypT0/is ypN0/+; P = 0.009) and 32.9% to 43.3% (ypT0/is ypN0; P = 0.007). Bevacizumab treatment [OR 1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23-2.42; P = 0.002], lower tumor stage (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.24-4.54; P = 0.009) and grade 3 tumors (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.14-2.48; P = 0.009) were confirmed as independent predictors of higher pCR in multivariate logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS
The addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy in TNBC significantly increases pCR rates.