A phase II trial of frontline capecitabine and bevacizumab in poor performance status and/or elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Abstract Objectives This study aims to determine the efficacy and tolerability of capecitabine (CAP) plus bevacizumab (BEV) as treatment for frontline metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in frail and/or elderly patients. Materials and Methods This was an open label, multi-site, single arm, phase II study in frontline mCRC. In this study, patients (pts) who were frail (ECOG 2) or older patients with ECOG 1 performance status (PS) received CAP (1000 mg/m 2 bid, 14 days of every 21 days) plus BEV (7.5 mg/kg iv once every 21 days). The primary objective was progression free survival (PFS). Secondary objectives were overall response rate (ORR) and toxicity. Results In terms of patients: 50 were enrolled; 5 withdrew consent prior to treatment; 45 were treated, and 41 were evaluable. The mean age was 75.9 (range 54–93) and 62% had an ECOG 2 PS. The median PFS was 6.87 months (95% CI, 5.1–11.5 months) and median overall survival was 12.7 months (95% CI, 6.9–12.7 months). The most common grades 3–4 toxicities were: diarrhea (17.8%), fatigue (13.3%), hand–foot syndrome (13.3%), dehydration (8.9%), hypertension (6.7%) and vomiting (6.7%). Conclusions The results of this trial support the use of CAP plus BEV as first-line treatment for frail/elderly patients with metastatic CRC. The ORR (40%) is comparable to pooled data in elderly on fluorouracil (5-FU) + BEV. The median PFS (7.2 months) in this study is slightly lower than that seen with 5-FU + BEV but this study had a high percentage of ECOG PS 2 patients. Side effects were manageable with no new safety signals.