Avastin for initial therapy

Hi all. I have been lurking on this board for the past week and have found so many of these posts to be helpful. It seems that many of you have had positive experiences with Avastin. Is anyone on avastin as first-line therapy (not for a recurrence)? I would love to hear your experiences and input. Positive things? Side effects? Thank you in advance!!!!!!!

[KidsDoc]

Just to clarify, I mean Avastin in combination with taxol and a platinum (either IV or IP). Thanks!

[westgal]

Until someone who has experience with it as a first-line tx, here is info on a first-line Avastin/Carboplatin/Taxol clinical trial:

Targeted Therapy for Ovarian Cancer

Name of the Trial
Phase III Randomized Study of Carboplatin and Paclitaxel Versus Carboplatin, Paclitaxel, and Concurrent Bevacizumab Without Versus With Extended Bevacizumab in Patients With Stage III or IV Ovarian Epithelial or Primary Peritoneal Cancer (GOG-0218). See the protocol summary.

Principal Investigators
Dr. Robert Burger and Dr. Gini Fleming, Gynecologic Oncology Group.

Why This Trial Is Important
Most women with ovarian cancer are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread to the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or beyond. The standard treatment for advanced ovarian cancer is surgery, both to establish the stage and type of cancer and to remove as much cancerous tissue as possible, followed by chemotherapy with drugs such as carboplatin and paclitaxel. Despite aggressive treatment, however, the survival rate for advanced ovarian cancer remains low.

In this trial, women who have undergone initial surgery for ovarian cancer or primary peritoneal cancer (which is biologically similar to ovarian cancer) will receive standard intravenous chemotherapy. Some women will also receive concurrent treatment with a biologic agent called bevacizumab. Bevacizumab blocks the activity of a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor, which helps tumors form new blood vessels needed for continued growth and spread. Following chemotherapy, some of the bevacizumab-treated women will receive additional courses of bevacizumab.

"In earlier trials, bevacizumab was shown to shrink ovarian tumors and stop tumor progression in some women with recurrent ovarian cancer," said Dr. Burger. "Based on these studies and studies of combining bevacizumab with chemotherapy for other advanced cancers, we're undertaking this trial to see if concurrent bevacizumab or concurrent and extended bevacizumab will help women with advanced ovarian cancer live longer and delay time to tumor progression."

Who Can Join This Trial
Researchers will enroll 2,000 women with suboptimal stage III or stage IV ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer who have undergone initial surgery for their cancer. See the list of eligibility criteria.

Study Sites and Contact Information
Study sites in the United States are recruiting patients for this trial. See the list of study contacts or call the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) for more information. The toll-free call is confidential.

[bohan54]

I am participating in this clinical trial.  Hoping I'm getting the good stuff and not the placebo!
Sharon B

[abrite]

I received the I.V. Taxol/Carbo/Avastin as my first line treatment in 2005. I was part of a clinical trial. Really had no significant side effects other than the usual fatigue, mild neuropathy from Taxol etc. Once I recovered from surgery, I was able to work and continue my regular activities. I finished chemo October 2006 and started chemo again for a recurrence July 2007. We all respond differently and I hope that this will work well for you. Best wishes.