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Improved Survival with Anti-VEGF Therapy in the Treatment of Unresectable Appendiceal Epithelial Neoplasms

  • Gastrointestinal Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Currently, cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy are accepted treatments for surgically resectable appendiceal epithelial neoplasms. However, for nonsurgical candidates, systemic treatment may be considered. The purpose of this analysis was to determine the benefit of biologic therapy (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor) in addition to systemic chemotherapy in this select patient population.

Methods

The MD Anderson Cancer Center tumor registry was retrospectively reviewed for systemic treatment-naive appendiceal epithelial neoplasm patients registered between January 2000 to July 2007 for prior cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy status, histologic grade, signet ring pathology, systemic chemotherapy, biologic therapy, tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen [CA] 125, and/or CA19-9), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and disease control rate. Kaplan–Meier method, log-rank, and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used for statistical analysis.

Results

A total of 353 patients were identified; 130 patients met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-nine patients received biologic therapy. The use of the anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent bevacizumab improved both OS (42 months vs. 76 months, hazard ratio 0.49 [95 % confidence interval 0.25–0.94] P = 0.03) and PFS (4 months vs. 9 months, hazard ratio 0.69 [95 % confidence interval 0.47–0.995], P = 0.047) for all histologic subtypes. Moderately differentiated tumors had an improved PFS relative to well-differentiated tumors, 9 months versus 3 months (P = 0.05).

Conclusions

Bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy appears to play a role in surgically unresectable appendiceal epithelial neoplasm patients, with an improvement in PFS and OS. Anti-VEGF agents should be strongly considered in the management of patients with higher-grade appendiceal epithelial neoplasms who are suboptimal candidates for surgical resection.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Ric Summers Appendiceal Cancer Research Fund.

Disclosure

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    J. H. Choe MD

  2. Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    M. J. Overman MD, A. Ohinata MS, J. K. Phillips MS, R. A. Wolff MD & C. Eng MD

  3. Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    K. F. Fournier MD, R. E. Royal MD, S. Rafeeq MD, K. Beaty MS & P. F. Mansfield MD

Authors
  1. J. H. Choe MD
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  2. M. J. Overman MD
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  3. K. F. Fournier MD
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  4. R. E. Royal MD
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  5. A. Ohinata MS
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  6. S. Rafeeq MD
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  7. K. Beaty MS
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  8. J. K. Phillips MS
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  9. R. A. Wolff MD
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  10. P. F. Mansfield MD
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  11. C. Eng MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Eng MD.

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Choe, J.H., Overman, M.J., Fournier, K.F. et al. Improved Survival with Anti-VEGF Therapy in the Treatment of Unresectable Appendiceal Epithelial Neoplasms. Ann Surg Oncol 22, 2578–2584 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-014-4335-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-014-4335-9

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