Safety and Oncological Outcomes of Bevacizumab Therapy in Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer and Self-expandable Metal Stents

Colorectal cancer can present with bowel obstruction, and self-expandable metal stents can be an alternative to surgery. Data on the safety of stents during bevacizumab treatment are lacking. The major early risk is perforation that can increase up to 12% during bevacizumab treatment. In patients that would benefit from self-expandable metal stents, we should consider the risks associated with systemic therapies, taking into account the improvement in survival with bevacizumab. Background: Malignant bowel obstruction can occur in 18% of cases. Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) can be an alternative to surgery. Bevacizumab (BV) has been associated with bowel perforation, but data on the safety of SEMS for occlusive colon cancer during BV-containing regimens are lacking. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 78 patients with malignant bowel obstruction who underwent placement of SEMS as a palliative intent for stage IV disease. Chemotherapy and BV-containing regimens, stent-related complications, and outcomes were recorded. Results: Overall, major stent-related complications were observed in 27 (35%) patients: Re-obstruction occurred in 14 (52%) patients, and there were 7 (26%) perforations, 4 (15%) minor bleeding, and 2 (7%) migrations. Sixteen patients received BV; 2 (12.5%) had a perforation. No differences were observed between chemotherapy alone and BV in overall complications. Univariate analysis did not show that BV was more likely to develop perforations, although the incidence was higher in this subset of patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significant association with longer overall survival for patients treated with systemic therapy (27 vs. 11 months; P <= .00001). Also, there is a significant benefit of BV compared with chemotherapy alone (43 vs. 39 months; P = .02). Conclusion: Placement of SEMS is effective and relatively safe but with an overall complication rate of 35% in the metastatic setting. The major early risk is perforation, which can increase up to 12% during BV treatment. In patients with obstructing advanced colorectal cancer that would benefit from SEMS, we should consider the risks associated with systemic therapies, taking into account the improvement in survival observed with BV.