Dr. Balar on Bevacizumab in Bladder Cancer

Arjun Balar, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, New York University Cancer Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, discusses two trials that evaluate the efficacy of bevacizumab in bladder cancer.

One trial, led by the Hoosier Oncology Group, combined bevacizumab with gemcitabine and cisplatin, Balar says. This trial showed that compared to historical controls, there was a higher response rate, higher progression-free survival, and higher overall survival for this group.

Another trial, led by researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, investigated bevacizumab in combination with gemcitabine and carboplatin for patients who are ineligible for cisplatin. This study, Balar says, also showed an improvement in response, progression-free-survival, and overall survival compared to historical controls.

Though neither study met their predefined statistical endpoints, Balar believes the data suggest that this is still a promising area for development. Since comparisons to historical controls are not sufficient to drug development, a randomized, prospective, phase III study (CALGB 90601) will be conducted.