Dr. Brufsky Discusses Bevacizumab Benefits in TNBC

Adam Brufsky, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, associate chief of hematology-oncology, and co-director of the Comprehensive Breast Center at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, discusses the benefits of second-line bevacizumab (Avastin) when added to standard chemotherapy in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients.

The RIBBON-2 trial examined 684 HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic TNBC patients. These patients were given bevacizumab in addition to the physician's choice of a second-line chemotherapy.

The median progression-free survival for the bevacizumab arm of the trial was 6.0 months compared to 2.7 months for patients on chemotherapy alone. The reduction in risk was 51% with an objective response rate of 41% for those receiving bevacizumab.