Efficacy and Safety of Aflibercept and Its Role in the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

• DOI: 10.1007/s40487-013-0002-8
• Publication Date: 2013-10-15T08:24:12Z
• Authors: Mohamed E. Salem; Sherif M. El-Refai
• Keywords: Aflibercept; Ramucirumab; FOLFIRI; Regorafenib

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and related pathway elements are critically important in the pathogenesis, growth, development of solid tumors. Inhibiting VEGF signaling is being investigated as a therapeutic strategy for cancer, either by blockade ligand binding or inhibition receptor. Aflibercept inhibitor that has been approved US Food Drug Administration treatment macular degeneration metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). A search PubMed MEDLINE from January 2000 to August 2013 was performed using following terms (or combination terms): VEGF, mCRC, aflibercept, ziv-aflibercept. Studies were limited those published English. Phase 1 2 clinical trials aflibercept advanced non-hematological showed acceptable safety provided justification further investigation. Four phase 3 conducted evaluate different cancers. The VELOUR trial evaluated with FOLFIRI patients mCRC. addition resulted improved median overall survival (OS, 13.5 vs. 12.1 months, p = 0.0032). VITAL docetaxel plus placebo non-small cell lung (NSCLC) who had progressed after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy; there no significant difference between two groups OS. VANILLA pancreatic adenocarcinoma terminated because gemcitabine failed demonstrate OS an interim analysis. In androgen-independent prostate VENICE also increase when combined standard chemotherapy. most common adverse events associated these hypertension, venous arterial thromboembolic events, hemorrhage, proteinuria. demonstrated improvement added FOLFIRI. However, it show similar benefits other tumor types. Further investigation needed improve patient selection distinguish may benefit best will require anti-angiogenic agents.