Drug News Cancer drug Avastin ups blood clotting risk
By Sue Mueller
Nov 19, 2008 - 10:38:25 AM
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Wednesday Nov 19, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Use of
cancer drug Avastin as part of chemotherapy raises the risk of blood clots in
the veins by 30 percent, according to a new study published in the Journal of the
American Medical Association.
The study analyzed 15 clinical trial of nearly 8,000
patients found Avastin, marketed by Roche and Genentech raises the risk of a
blood clot in the veins from 10 percent of patients to 13 percent.
This means that 10 percent of patients who use other
chemotherapy drugs alone will experience blood clots in the veins compared to
13 percent of those who used Avastin along with other chemo drugs.
Avastin a so-called angiogenesis inhibitor works to block
vascular endothelial growth factor or VEGF, which helps tumors grow a blood
supply.
Blood clotting is not a risk
newly found. The Avastin label already acknowledges the risk.
For more information on Avastin, read on.
Patient Information Sheet: Bevacizumab (marketed as
Avastin)
This is a summary of the most important information about
Avastin. For details, talk to your healthcare professional.
What is Avastin used for?
Avastin is used in combination with:
* intravenous
5-FU based combination chemotherapy regimens as the first-treatment or
second-treatment for patients with metastatic colon cancer (cancer of the colon
or rectum that has spread to other areas of the body).
* carboplatin
and paclitaxel for first‑
treatment of patients with unresectable
(unable to remove by operation), locally advanced, recurrent or
metastatic non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer.
Avastin will not cure colorectal cancer or lung
cancer.
Overall, patients given Avastin
plus chemotherapy for treatment of either colon cancer or lung cancer that has
spread live longer than those who receive only chemotherapy.
Special Warning(s) with Avastin:
* Avastin may
cause gastrointestinal perforation (holes in the stomach, intestines or colon)
requiring surgery to repair.
* Avastin may impair
wound healing or cause wounds to open up.
Avastin should not be started for at least 28 days following major
surgery and full wound healing, and should be stopped before a scheduled
surgery.
* Mild bleeding
(such as nosebleeds) is common in patients who receive Avastin.
Serious bleeding from the lungs or digestive
system, requiring blood transfusions, occur in less than 5% of patients
receiving Avastin.
When very severe,
patients have died from blood loss.
* Avastin may
cause a severe increase in blood pressure so patients receiving Avastin should
have their blood pressure checked regularly.
* Avastin may
cause proteinuria (protein in the urine, a sign of kidney damage).
* Avastin may
cause blood clots.
The chances of blood
clots are highest in patients who are elderly.
* Avastin may
cause congestive heart failure (failure of the heart to pump blood well)
especially when given with chemotherapy that is known to damage the heart (such
as doxorubicin).
General Precautions with Avastin:
* Avastin
should be used with caution in patients who are allergic to Avastin or to any
of the ingredients in Avastin.
* Avastin may
cause severe infusion reactions such as trouble breathing. This usually happens
during the first dose, so patients should receive treatment in a doctor’s
office or clinic.
What should I tell my healthcare provider?
Tell your healthcare provider if you:
* have or had
liver or kidney problems
* have high
blood pressure
* have
congestive heart failure or other heart problems
* are pregnant,
are trying to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
* have recently
had surgery or are planning to have surgery
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you
take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and
herbal supplements.
Some medicines may
affect how Avastin works or Avastin may affect how your other medicines work.
What are some possible side effects of Avastin? (This
list is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Avastin.
Your healthcare provider can discuss with you
a more complete list of side effects.)
Serious side effects include of Avastin treatment
include:
*
gastrointestinal perforation
* impaired
wound healing
* severe
bleeding
* a dangerously
high increase in blood pressure
* kidney damage
* blood clots
* congestive
heart failure
More common side effects of Avastin treatment include:
* tiredness and
weakness
* stomach pain
* headache
* high blood
pressure
* diarrhea
* nausea and
vomiting
* loss of
appetite
* mouth sores
* constipation
* lung
infections
* nose bleeds
* shortness of
breath
* decreased
white blood cells
* skin peeling
* protein in
the urine
For more detailed information about Avastin
(bevacizumab), ask your healthcare provider.