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To the Editor: Bevacizumab has become a routine tool for the treatment of several types of tumors. However, adverse events that have been related to bevacizumab have included arterial thromboembolism and VTE, which have significant clinical consequences for patients. However, it is unclear whether VTEs are due to cancer, chemotherapy, bevacizumab, or other factors. In their well-designed meta-analysis, Dr Nalluri and colleagues¹ found that patients treated with bevacizumab-based therapy had a significantly increased risk of VTE compared with controls (relative risk [RR], 1.33). Although the authors commented that many factors might contribute to the development of VTE in cancer patients, the overall increased risk of VTE associated with bevacizumab was 33%.

All of the 15 RCTs included in this analysis evaluated the use of bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy or cytokines. The increased risk of VTE might be associated with the bevacizumab-combination therapy and not with treatment with bevacizumab by . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Javier Cortes, MD, PhD
jacortes@vhebron.net

Cristina Saura, MD; Francesco Atzori, MD
Oncology Department
Vall d’Hebron University Hospital
Barcelona, Spain

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