Roche's Avastin Receives EU Approval For Ovarian Cancer
Editor's ChoiceMain Category: Ovarian Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 25 Dec 2011 - 0:00 PST
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Roche announced today that its product known as Avastin (bevacizumab) has been approved by the European Union for treatment of ovarian cancer. When used in combination with standard chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) it will be part of a front-line (first-line following surgery) regime.
Hal Barron M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Head, Global Product Development said :
"Today's approval of Avastin marks the first major treatment advance in newly diagnosed ovarian cancer in 15 years ...
This is the fifth tumor type for which Avastin has been approved in Europe, making it one of the few biologic drugs indicated for multiple cancers."
Ovarian Cancer is the 8th most common cancer with nearly quarter of a million women diagnosed around the world and around 3 out of 5 of those dying from the disease.
The approval of Avastin marks a major advance in the treatment of ovarian cancer, which until now has only had limited treatment options.
Treatment usually involves removal of the tumor(s) and chemotherapy follow up, but unfortunately, ovarian cancer is a major killer because it's often diagnosed late and may have already spread.
Avastin has demonstrated in two phase III studies (GOG0218 and ICON7) that women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer who received Avastin plus chemotherapy and then continued on Avastin alone lived significantly longer without their disease getting worse (progression-free survival) compared to those who received chemotherapy only.
Ovarian cancer is associated with high concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein associated with tumor growth and spread. Avastin precisely inhibits VEGF, high levels, which are associated with ascites development (excess fluid in the body cavity), disease worsening, and a poorer prognosis in ovarian cancer patients.
Avastin was originally approved in 2004 for treating colorectal cancer, and became the first anti-angiogenic therapy made widely available for the treatment of patients with an advanced cancer.
Written by Rupert Shepherd
Copyright: Medical News Today
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23 Feb. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/239705.php>
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Visitor Opinions In Chronological Order (2)
Son of recently diagnosed Mom (ovarian cancer)
posted by Jeff Barnhart on 25 Dec 2011 at 11:19 pmThis says approved in Europe. My mom was just diagnosed with stage 3c through major surgery 2 days ago and has been told chemotherapy is all we can do. She has kaiser and we live in California. How can she get this?
My friend's experience
posted by J. Sewell on 26 Dec 2011 at 10:19 amI can't tell you the stage when she started but it was said to be primary peritoneal cancer and they think it started in a fallopian tube. She had the massive surgery and within a month (I believe) started on a brutal chemo regimen that lasted from March to May. It was a combination of Avastin and other chemo drugs. She finished that and started Avastin only infusions every three weeks. She has gradually gotten back strength and now feels really good and strong. The infusions will go until March. Its been just about exactly one year as I write this today 12/26/11.
This paragraph is copied from the announcement just above: "Avastin has demonstrated in two phase III studies (GOG0218 and ICON7) that women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer who received Avastin plus chemotherapy and then continued on Avastin alone lived significantly longer without their disease getting worse (progression-free survival) compared to those who received chemotherapy only."
I believe her study is the first one listed. I am certainly hoping that she will live longer as I know you hope for your mother.
The studies are at some major cancer treatment centers. Hers is in Minneapolis but I beleive there are others and you can search for this information by googling the study identification. When you find a site near you then you can google doctors who participate and so forth.
I think I remember that one of the keys was to start chemo within 8 weeks of the surgery/diagnosis. My friend is one of the bravest people in this world. She went through pure hell but she had to get through that first part to participate in the Avastin infusions that she's doing now.
There are no signs of cancer found in her scans or lab work. We can only hope and pray that she has much more life to live here. Right now though she feels good and strong as I said and she is doing her best to avoid thinking about how long since no one can know that.
Hurry to find this information for your mom. She is lucky to have you for a son.
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