Efficacy and safety of antiangiogenic therapy (bevacizumab or apatinib) plus chemotherapy in patients with platinum‑resistant recurrent ovarian cancer: A retrospective study

The majority of patients with ovarian cancer will relapse and subsequently develop platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer (PRROC). Antiangiogenic therapy plus chemotherapy may be a potential treatment option in patients with PRROC. However, further evidence is required to facilitate clinical application. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of antiangiogenic therapy (bevacizumab or apatinib) plus chemotherapy in patients with PRROC. Data from 86 patients with PRROC receiving antiangiogenic therapy (bevacizumab or apatinib) plus chemotherapy (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, weekly-paclitaxel or gemcitabine) were reviewed retrospectively. Data for treatment response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse events were obtained. Complete response, partial response, stable disease and progressive disease rates were 0.0, 33.7, 44.2 and 22.1%, respectively. Objective response and disease control rates were 33.7 and 77.9%, respectively. Median (and 95% confidence intervals) PFS and OS values were 6.5 (4.7-8.2) and 20.3 (14.1-26.5) months, respectively. PFS (P=0.016) and OS (P=0.005) durations were longer in patients that received the antiangiogenic plus chemotherapy regimen as a second-line treatment vs. patients that received it as a third-line or above treatment. Ascites (yes vs. no) and current treatment lines (third or above vs. second) were independently associated with shorter PFS and OS (all P<0.05). The most frequent treatment-induced adverse events were leukopenia (34.9%), hypertension (30.2%) and fatigue (30.2%). All adverse events were considered acceptable and only previously reported adverse events were observed. The findings of the present study may provide further clinical evidence for the application of antiangiogenic therapy plus chemotherapy in patients with PRROC.