Roche says data represents first positive late-stage results for an antiangiogenesis treatment in this indication.
Roche and its Genentech business reported positive data from a Phase III trial evaluating the use of Avastin in patients with newly diagnosed, advanced ovarian cancer who have undergone tumor resection. The results suggest that Avastin maintenance therapy following initial chemotherapy has benefits on progression-free survival (PFS).
The news comes two days after Roche reported negative results for Avastin in metastatic gastric cancer. The Phase III trial demonstrated no difference in overall survival between patients given chemotherapy plus Avastin or chemotherapy plus placebo.
The Gynecologic Oncology Group 0218 study involved 1,873 women with previously untreated advanced epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube carcinoma. It evaluated Avastin or placebo in combination with chemotherapy, followed by 15 months of maintenance monotherapy with either Avastin or placebo alone.
The results showed that women receiving Avastin maintenance therapy experienced longer PFS than those who did not, whether they had Avastin added to their initial chemotherapy or not. Roche claims it is the first Phase III study to yield positive results of an antiangiogenic therapy in advanced ovarian cancer.
