Primary colon cancer site as a predictor of bevacizumab effectiveness in metastatic colon cancer patients.

574 Background: Bevacizumab has been approved by the FDA for first-line treatment in combination with chemotherapy for metastatic colon cancer. Although bevacizumab extends progression free survival and overall survival for many metastatic colon cancer patients, primary cancer site has not been examined as a predictor of its effectiveness. Methods: Data regarding bevacizumab treatment for colorectal cancer were abstracted from the medical record of 175 patients treated at a large multi-specialty clinic. Data were collected regarding demographics, body mass index, weight loss, lifestyle variables (smoking status, drinking habit), history of colon polyps, family history of cancer, primary site of tumor in the colon, tumor stage, lymph node involvement, metastasis, tumor grade of metastasis, cancer cell type, symptoms related to the cancer, and other comorbidities (cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, and irritable bowel syndrome).Tumor response was measured by radiolog...