Do medicines that restrict new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis inhibitors) help women with epithelial ovarian cancer?
Bevacizumab has been used in the first-line treatment of ovarian cancer for 5 years. It is expensive, although biosimilar cheaper alternatives are now available, and causes significant side effects for many women, with hypertension, stroke and bowel perforation as possible fatal adverse reactions.
An analysis of all available literature, done by the Cochrane Collaboration looked at treatment with Bevacizumab for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, with the purpose of determining if it is effective.
Results showed no benefit for women who commenced treatment as maintenance after initial therapy. Quality of life is decreased with Bevacizumab treatment and significant side effects increased. There is no increase in overall survival. Only women who are platinum resistant have significant increase in progress free survival.
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