Independent radiologic review: bevacizumab in combination with gemcitabine and carboplatin in recurrent ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: OCEANS, a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III trial, found that adding bevacizumab to gemcitabine-carboplatin (GC) significantly improved investigator-determined progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) in platinum-sensitive, recurrent ovarian cancer. To evaluate the reliability of assessment of progression and objective response per RECIST, radiologic and clinical data were assessed by an independent review committee (IRC).

METHODS: Radiologic images and clinical data were provided prospectively to the IRC for all randomized patients (N=484). Data were reviewed in a blinded fashion per RECIST (modified v1.0). PFS and ORR were analyzed based on the IRC assessment. Concordance between investigator- and IRC-assessed progression and objective response was assessed.

RESULTS: The IRC analysis demonstrated a statistically significant increase in PFS (hazard ratio [HR]=0.451; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.351 to 0.580, p<0.0001) consistent with the benefit reported by investigators (HR=0.484; 95% CI=0.388 to 0.605, p<0.0001). The concordance rate, defined by agreement on progression status, was 74.2% overall, and comparable between treatment arms (bevacizumab, 75.2% vs. placebo, 73.1%). IRC-assessed ORR was significantly improved with bevacizumab (bevacizumab, 74.8% vs. placebo, 53.7%; p<0.0001), consistent with the investigator-assessed results. The concordance rate for objective response was 79.8% overall, and comparable between treatment arms (bevacizumab, 78.9% vs. placebo, 80.6%).

CONCLUSIONS: IRC-determined results were highly consistent with those determined by investigators, demonstrating that bevacizumab plus GC provides a significant improvement in PFS and ORR. These results suggest that investigators can reliably assess disease progression and objective response in recurrent ovarian cancer using RECIST, without the necessity of a full IRC review.