e14552 Background: XELOX plus bevacizumab (BEV) is an established first line therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, the cumulative neurotoxicity of oxaliplatin often requires therapy to be discontinued while the patient is still responding. The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of XELOX plus BEV with oxaliplatin stop and go strategy. Methods: Fifty four patients with unresectable mCRC were enrolled as first line treatment. They were treated with four cycles of XELOX plus BEV, followed by maintenance therapy with capecitabine (Cape) plus BEV. Reintroduction of oxaliplatin was scheduled after eight cycles of Cape plus BEV or upon tumor progression. The primary endpoint was progression free survival (PFS). Results: Forty nine patients (90%) achieved to the maintenance therapy and thirty two patients (59%) were reintroduced oxaliplatin. After a median follow-up time of 24.2 months, median PFS was 13.4 months (95%CI: 11.7-15.1), median duration of disease control was 13.8 months (95%CI: 11.6-16.0) and median overall survival was 29.0 months (95%CI: 23.1-34.9). The response rate and disease control rate were 57.4% and 96.3% in the initial XELOX plus BEV therapy, 6.1% and 73.5% in Cape plus BEV maintenance therapy, and 0% and 72.4% in reintroduced XELOX plus BEV therapy. The incidence of neuropathy was 38% in initial therapy, 33% in maintenance therapy and 43% in reintroduced therapy. Conclusions: XELOX plus bevacizumab therapy with oxaliplatin stop-and-go strategy was feasible to maintain long disease control without increasing severe neurotoxicity in first-line treatment for mCRC. Clinical trial information: UMIN000006478.
The role of maintenance therapy in the first line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer
