Avastin

laurettas

This was part of a reply to a question on another cancer site. I found it extremely interesting and was wondering if anyone else knew anything about this:

There is no evidence that Avastin works alone. In fact, there is some evidence that it doesn't.

A clinical trial with three arms compared chemotherapy alone, chemotherapy with Avastin, and Avastin alone. When patients appeared to get no benefit from Avastin given alone, that arm was dropped. Tumors in that arm progressed as quickly as if no drugs were being given.

The other important issue to consider is that Avastin has some significant side effects. They are different from what we often think of chemo side effects like nausea or diarrhea, but they can be life-threatening. Heart attacks, strokes, gastrointestinal perforations (holes in the intestines), and bleeding do occur and sometimes are deadly.



I think we were surprised that Avastin didn't work alone. The original idea that Avastin worked by shutting down blood supply with its food and oxygen to tumors may have been too simple. High resolution scans of blood vessels around tumors finds that they are twisted and leaky. Instead of blocking new blood vessels, Avastin appears to strengthen the blood vessel system so that chemotherapy can be delivered to the tumor more effectively.

Avastin is sometimes prescribed alone when the standard treatments for colorectal cancer aren't working anymore. Doctors see it as "something to try." But doing something isn't always better than doing nothing at all, especially when there is some evidence that a treatment doesn't work and evidence that it might be harmful.

PhillieG

Avastin
From WebMD.com How Avastin Works. It addresses some of the points that the other post raised.
When I was dx in 2004, Avastin just came out. I started taking it one month into my FOLFOX chemo protocol so I only took Avastin for 5 out of my 6 months of chemo prior to my surgery. It did exactly what it was supposed to do, it starved the tumor on my hepatic artery and it shrunk which made me operable. Everything has risks, you have to weigh them versus the potential benefits then hope it works like planned.
-p

sharpy102

PhillieG said:

Avastin
From WebMD.com How Avastin Works. It addresses some of the points that the other post raised.
When I was dx in 2004, Avastin just came out. I started taking it one month into my FOLFOX chemo protocol so I only took Avastin for 5 out of my 6 months of chemo prior to my surgery. It did exactly what it was supposed to do, it starved the tumor on my hepatic artery and it shrunk which made me operable. Everything has risks, you have to weigh them versus the potential benefits then hope it works like planned.
-p

have you guys heard?
Hey everyone:

I was shocked to hear today that Avastin was pulled off last week as a chemo treatment for breast cancer as the side effects are far worse than its efficacy for the treatment of breast cancer...I wonder, if this means that maybe there's going to be some improvement on a new drug for colon cancer that could have less side effects and more, or just as effective as Avastin...that would be great! I'll keep my fingers crossed for this! Happy Thanksgiving to all you, okay?
Best,
- Sophie

laurettas

sharpy102 said:

have you guys heard?
Hey everyone:

I was shocked to hear today that Avastin was pulled off last week as a chemo treatment for breast cancer as the side effects are far worse than its efficacy for the treatment of breast cancer...I wonder, if this means that maybe there's going to be some improvement on a new drug for colon cancer that could have less side effects and more, or just as effective as Avastin...that would be great! I'll keep my fingers crossed for this! Happy Thanksgiving to all you, okay?
Best,
- Sophie

Oh, I hope so!!
We can only hope that there is another better treatment in the wings as they begin pulling this one off the shelves.

John23

sharpy102 said:

have you guys heard?
Hey everyone:

I was shocked to hear today that Avastin was pulled off last week as a chemo treatment for breast cancer as the side effects are far worse than its efficacy for the treatment of breast cancer...I wonder, if this means that maybe there's going to be some improvement on a new drug for colon cancer that could have less side effects and more, or just as effective as Avastin...that would be great! I'll keep my fingers crossed for this! Happy Thanksgiving to all you, okay?
Best,
- Sophie

Sophie -

The FDA heard the argument by the Breast Cancer specialists
against using Avastin for therapy for breast cancer, and have
decided to revoke their approval for that usage. It remains
available for colon cancer, etc.

FDA disallows Avastin as breast-cancer drug

Drugs are approved based on the developer's findings and reports.

When subsequent use finds that the findings and "studies" were
not accurate and/or misleading, or the product is causing more
harm than good, the FDA can revoke it's original decision.

Be glad it did.

"Too much money often results in a quest for more money"

(it's called "greed")

Best of health to you.

John