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Hypertension-A prognostic factor for patients receiving Bevacizumab ?
- Mark J. Rother (11 February 2009)
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Mark J. Rother, Medical Oncologist Peel Regional Cancer Center 2200 EglintonAve.W. Mississauga ON Canada L5M2N1
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I read with interest the article by Scartozzi et al. (1); however, I disagree with the conclusion.The paper states that "bevacizumab-induced hypertension may represent an interesting prognostic factor for clinical outcome in advanced colorectal cancer patients receiving first-line bevacizumab". By definition prognostic factors try to forecast probable outcomes independant of therapy but must be definable prospectively. A factor influencing efficacy of a specific drug is predictive not prognostic such as KRAS and anti EGFR monoclonal antibodies(2).However these factors should be recognizable prospectively as well. Hypertension occurs during the bevacizumab therapy and therefore is a surrogate of reponse being strictly neither prognostic nor a predictor. Nevertheless it may still give important clues on the value of the ongoing treatment. References 1. M. Scartozzi M, Galizia E, Chiorrini S et al. Arterial hypertension correlates with clinical outcome in colorectal cancer patients treated with first-line bevacizumab. Ann Oncol 2009; 20(2):227-230 2. Karapetis CS, Khambata-Ford MDS, Jonker DJ et al. K-ras Mutations and Benefit from Cetuximab in Advanced Colorectal Cancer. N Engl J Med 2008; 359:1757-1765 Conflict of Interest:None declared |
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