Table 1.
Bevacizumab with conventional chemo-radiotherapy: Overview of the discussed studies
| Ref. | Phase | n | Treatment | Stage | Post-operative complications (n) | pCR |
| Willet et al[11], 2009 | I-II | 32 | BV 5 or 10 mg/kg, 5-FU 225 mg/m2 daily, RT 50.4 Gy in 28 fr. | II-III | Anastomotic leak with presacral abscess (1) | 16% |
| Vaginal tear with presacral hematoma and abscess (1) | ||||||
| Pelvic hematoma (1) | ||||||
| Delayed healing of perineal incision (2) | ||||||
| Ileus (2) | ||||||
| Neurogenic bladder (1) | ||||||
| Perforated ileostomy (1) | ||||||
| Pulmonary embolus (1) | ||||||
| Wound infection (3) | ||||||
| Crane et al[12], 2010 | II | 25 | BV 5 mg/kg, CAPE 900 mg/m2 bid, RT 50.4 Gy in 28 fr. | II-III | Wound complications requiring surgical intervention (3) | 32% |
| Minor complications (5) | ||||||
| Velenik et al[13], 2011 | II | 61 | BV 5 mg/kg, CAPE 825 mg/m2 bid, RT 50.4 Gy in 28 fr. | II-III | Delayed wound healing (18) | 13.3% |
| Infection/abscess (12) | ||||||
| Anastomotic leakage (7) | ||||||
| Pneumothorax (1) | ||||||
| Villacampa et al[15], 2012 | IIb | 90 | Arm A: BV 5 mg/kg, CAPE 825 mg/m2 bid, RT 45 Gy in 25 fr. | II-III | 19 vs 18 patients (not specified) | 16% vs 11% |
| Arm B: CAPE 825 mg/m2 bid, RT 45 Gy in 25 fr. | ||||||
| Gasparini et al[16], 2012 | II | 43 | BV 5 mg/kg, CAPE 825 mg/m2 bid, RT 50.4 Gy in 28 fr. | II-III | Bowel perforation (1) | 14% |
| Anastomosis failure (1) | ||||||
| Abscess (1) | ||||||
| Marijnen et al[17], 2008 | II | 23 | BV 5 mg /kg, CAPE 825 mg/m2 bid, RT 50 Gy in 25 fr. | II-III | Perineal dehiscence (1) | 9% |
| Rectovaginal fistula (1) | ||||||
| Peri-operative bleeding (1) | ||||||
| Pulmonary embolism (1) |
BV: Bevacizumab; RT: Radiotherapy; 5-FU: 5-fluorouracil; CAPE: Capecitabine; fr.: Fractions; pCR: Pathological complete response.