Efficacy of chemotherapy containing bevacizumab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer according to programmed cell death ligand 1

BACKGROUND Bevacizumab,an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)monoclonal antibody,inhibits angiogenesis and reduces tumor growth.Serum VEGF-C,lactate dehydrogenase,and inflammatory markers have been reported as predictive markers related to bevacizumab treatment.Programmed cell death ligand 1(PD-L1)could act upon VEGF receptor 2 to induce cancer cell angiogenesis and metastasis.AIM To investigate the efficacy of bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer(CRC)according to the expression of PD-L1.METHODS This analysis included CRC patients who received bevacizumab plus FOLFOX or FOLFIRI as first-line therapy between June 24,2014 and February 28,2022,at Samsung Medical Center(Seoul,South Korea).Analysis of patient data included evaluation of PD-L1 expression by the combined positive score(CPS).We analyzed the efficacy of bevacizumab according to PD-L1 expression status in patients with CRC.RESULTS A total of 124 patients was included in this analysis.Almost all patients were treated with bevacizumab plus FOLFIRI or FOLFOX as the first-line chemotherapy.While 77%of patients received FOLFOX,23%received FOLFIRI as backbone first-line chemotherapy.The numbers of patients with a PD-L1 CPS of 1 or more,5 or more,or 10 or more were 105(85%),64(52%),and 32(26%),respectively.The results showed no significant difference in progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)with bevacizumab treatment between patients with PDL1 CPS less than 1 and those with PD-L1 CPS of 1 or more(PD-L1<1%vs PD-L1≥1%;PFS:P=0.93,OS:P=0.33),between patients with PD-L1 CPS less than 5 and of 5 or more(PD-L1<5%vs PD-L1≥5%;PFS:P=0.409,OS:P=0.746),and between patients with PD-L1 CPS less than 10 and of 10 or more(PD-L1<10%vs PD-L1≥10%;PFS:P=0.529,OS:P=0.568).CONCLUSION Chemotherapy containing bevacizumab can be considered as first-line therapy in metastatic CRC irrespective of PD-L1 expression.

Intravenous Suitability Studies of Commonly Used Oxacillin Sodium Solutions in the Accufuser^(■) Infusion Device

Our study compares two commonly used solutions of oxacillin sodium, 5.0 mg/mL in either 0.9% sodium chloride (NS) or 5% dextrose water (D5W), for their continued suitability for IV usage, and stability of active compound over time, when stored at two different controlled temperatures for six weeks. Both solutions were stored in an intravenous infusion device commercially available as Accufuser? and kept at a continuously maintained temperature of either 4 ± 2?C (CT) or 25 ± 2?C (RT). Suitability for IV administration was assessed by measuring changes in macrographical transparency and pH over time, and drug stability was assessed by measuring changes in oxacillin concentration over time using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After 6 weeks, concentrations of oxacillin were unchanged in the CT solutions, while both RT solutions showed significant decreases in the concentration of oxacillin after only two weeks. Final concentration compared to starting concentrations after 6 weeks at RT, were 36.57% in NS, while virtually no oxacillin was detectable in D5W. Also pH measurements showed a slight decrement at 2 weeks with RT, and at 6 weeks, there was a significant change in pH in both NS and D5W at RT. There was no significant change in color, transparency or appearance after 6 weeks in any of the oxacillin solutions stored in the Accufuser? infusion device. In summary, two commonly used IV solutions for oxacillin administration(5 mg/mL in NS or D5W) stored ready to use in the Accufuser? showed significant changes over time when maintained at RT, that would make the solutions inappropriate for therapeutic use. Both solutions when maintained in CT were not significantly altered and continued to be appropriate in pH and drug concentration for IV therapy. This suggests that ready-to-use solutions of oxacillin sodium in the Accufuser? infusion device can be kept at CT for up to 6 weeks safely but should not be stored at RT due to loss of potency and changes in pH.