Retrospective study on bevacizumab in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with brain metastases

Background Bevacizumab was demonstrated to have efficacy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and brain metastases. However, cerebral toxicities were a major concern. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and risk factors of toxicity of bevacizumab in brain metastases. Methods All patients with advanced NSCLC hospitalized in our institute were screened and only those, who underwent bevacizumab administration after the diagnosis of brain metastases, were included. Results Fifty-one patients, who were treatment naive or pretreated prior to bevacizumab regimens, were enrolled. Regardless of treatment lines, the objective response rate (ORR) was 62.7% (32/51), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 6.2 months (95%CI, 5.0-7.4) and 14.0 months (95%CI, 9.6-18.4), respectively, and intracranial PFS was 7.8 months (95%CI, 7.1-8.5). For 41 patients with measurable brain metastatic lesions, the intracranial ORR was 46.3% (19/41). Ten patients (19.6%, 10/51) experienced cerebral toxicities (seven cases of grade 1 and three cases of grade 3), including cerebral or intratumoral hemorrhage and ischemic stroke. Cardiovascular disease was the risk factor contributing to cerebral toxicities (OR 16.645; 95%CI, 2.443-113.430; P = 0.004). Conclusions This retrospective study shows that bevacizumab has efficacy and favorable toxicity in patients with NSCLC and brain metastases and cardiovascular disease might be a risk factor for cerebral toxicity.