Efficacy of obesity in metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with bevacizumab-based chemotherapy combinations: A Turkish Oncology Group Study

Background

Obesity is known as a carcinogenic factor for colorectal cancer. Interestingly, obesity is associated with increased VEGF levels. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether obesity affects survival in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients who treated with bevacizumab combined chemotherapies.

Methods

Five hundred and sixty three patients with mCRC who received first-line chemotherapy combination with bevacizumab were studied retrospectively. Patients were grouped as obese (BMI levels > 30) and non-obese (BMI levels 

Results

The median age of all the patients was 59 years. Non-obese group had longer PFS than obese group (P = 0.030). 2-year survival rate of non-obese group was also significantly higher (P = 0.036). In the univariate cox regression analysis ECOG ≤1, male gender, and non-obesity were the positive factors for PFS (HRs: 0.46, 0.81, and 0.75, respectively). In the multivariate analysis ECOG performance status was found as the most powerful prognostic factor for PFS (HR: 0.47, P 1 402 (85%) 72 (15%) 71 (80%) 18 (20%) 473 (84%) 90 (16%) Female 175(37%) 53 (60%) 228 (40%) Male 299 (63%) 36 (40%) 335 (60%) Metastases Liver 215 (46%) 38 (43%) 253 (45%) Multiple The other sites 147 (31%) 110 (23%) 25 (28%) 26 (29%) 172 (31%) 136 (24%) Treatments FI + BEV 308 (65%) 52 (58%) 360 (64%) FO + BEV 142 (30%) 33 (37%) 175 (31%) F + BEV 24 (5%) 4 (5%) 28 (5%) Kras status Wild 163 (81.5%) 37 (18.5%) 200 (100%) Mutant 157 (85.8%) 26 (14.2%) 175 (31%)

Conclusions

Efficacy of bevacizumab may be lower in obese patients. Prospectively designed studies for obese patients should be done to recommend the efficacy of bevacuzimab in mCRC.

Clinical trial identification

Not applicable

Legal entity responsible for the study

N/A

Funding

Turkish Oncology Group (TOG)

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.