Purpose: This phase II trial aimed to evaluate feasibility and efficacy of a first-line combination of targeted therapies for advanced non-squamous NSCLC: bevacizumab (B) and erlotinib (E), followed by platinum-based CT at disease progression (PD).
Methods: 103 patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC were treated with B (15 mg/kg day 1 of each 21-day cycle) and E (150 mg daily) until PD or unacceptable toxicity. Upon PD patients received 6 cycles of CT (cisplatin/carboplatin and gemcitabine). The primary endpoint was disease stabilization rate (DSR) after 12 weeks of BE treatment.
Results: 101 patients were evaluable. Under BE, DSR at week 12 was 54.5%. 73 patients had at least stable disease (SD), including 1 complete remission and 17 partial responses (PR). No unexpected toxicities were observed. Median time to progression (TTP) under BE was 4.1 months. 62 patients started CT; 35 received at least 4 cycles (6 PR, 32 SD). At a median follow-up of 36 months, median overall survival (OS) was 14.1 months.
Conclusions: First-line BE treatment followed by a fixed CT regimen at PD is feasible with acceptable toxicity and activity. In a non-squamous NSCLC population unselected for EGFR status, we found OS rates similar to standard CT.
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