To explore the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab combined with preoperative chemotherapy for colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases.

Clinical data of 89 colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases admitted and treated in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between May 2009 and August 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval was received. According to the first-line chemotherapy regimens, the patients were divided into the bevacizumab combined with preoperative chemotherapy group (bevacizumab group, n=32) and the simple preoperative chemotherapy group (the chemotherapy group, n=57). Among the patients in the bevacizumab group, 24 were males and 8 were females with the age ranging from 29 to 74 years old and the median of 59 years old, 22 were with colon cancer and 10 were with rectal cancer. Among the patients in the chemotherapy group, 42 were males and 15 were females with the age ranging from 28 to 74 years old and the median of 57 years old, 42 were with colon cancer and 15 were with rectal cancer. The progression-free survival, response rate, resection rate and conversion rate of liver metastases and adverse effect incidence of preoperative therapy in two groups were observed and compared. The rates were compared using Chi-square test, and the survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test.

The median progression-free survival was 16 months in the bevacizumab group and 13 months in the chemotherapy group, and no significant difference was observed in the progression-free survival rate between two groups (χ²=0.030, P>0.05). The response rate, resection rate and conversion rate of liver metastases were respectively 59%(19/32), 69%(22/32) and 53%(17/32) in the bevacizumab group and 39%(22/57), 54%(31/57) and 40%(23/57) in the chemotherapy group, and no significant differences were observed (χ²=3.561, 1.755, 0.983; P>0.05). The overall incidence of adverse events was 12%(4/32) in the bevacizumab group with 2 cases of neutropenia, 1 case of hand-foot syndrome and 1 case of grade Ⅲ gums bleeding, while the overall incidence of adverse events was 9%(5/57) in the chemotherapy group with 3 cases of thrombocytopenia, 1 case of neutropenia and 1 case of liver function impairment. And no significant difference was observed between two groups (χ²=0.313, P>0.05).

Bevacizumab combined with preoperative chemotherapy is safe and has potential curative effect to prolong the disease-free survival for colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases.