Avastin Linked to Increased Risk of Death

Washington, DCResults from a new study on Avastin, (Bevacizumab) show that there is a small, increased risk of death in cancer patients taking the drug in combination with chemotherapy. This is compared with people on chemotherapy alone.

Avastin was approved for use in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of certain advanced cancers, including colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and renal cell carcinoma.

According to the study, published in the February 2nd, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the results showed that 2.5 percent of patients taking bevacizumab died from bleeding and other side-effects thought to be associated with the drug.

The study's lead author, Dr. Shenhong Wu of Stony Brook University Cancer Center, New York, and colleagues also reported that fatal side-effects were nearly 1.5 times more frequent among patients on bevacizumab than among those on chemotherapy alone.

FEB-02-11: Slightly higher risk of death from Avastin flagged CBC.CA: NEWS