abstract: (Avastin) Bevacizumab-Associated Fistula Formation in Postoperative Colorectal Cancer Patients - adverse events

Blogger's Note: adverse events are worth noting albeit other types of cancers; full text of paper would be required to properly assess the conclusions of this particular study

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Conclusions

Bevacizumab is the most common antiangiogenesis agent used for treatment of metastatic CRC. Previous adverse events associated with bevacizumab treatment include venous thromboembolism, poor wound healing, and spontaneous bowel perforation. In this report, late postoperative development of fistulas occurred relatively soon after initiation of bevacizumab and usually spontaneously resolved with cessation of bevacizumab treatment. Based on the timing of fistula development relative to operation and initiation of bevacizumab, fistulas are likely secondary to bevacizumab therapy rather than postsurgical complications. Bevacizumab-induced fistulas occur in a small, but significant proportion of CRC patients and must be recognized early.