A study released on Monday by the Chinese University of Hong Kong may mark a significant advance in the treatment of lung cancer.

The study has identified a potential biomarker able to help doctors identify which kinds of lung cancer patients will benefit most from treatment with the pharmaceutical bevacizumab.

The study also established that both high and low doses of bevacizumab are capable of achieving similar outcomes.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in Hong Kong, and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

Bevacizumab effectively attacks the growth of tumor blood vessels.

It was approved as a first-line therapy for advanced lung cancer by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2006.

"Although bevacizumab has become one of the first-line treatments for patients with advanced lung cancer, it is still important to identify the optimal dosage and some certain biomarkers will provide hints," Professor Tony Mok of the university's Department of Clinical Oncology said.

Biomarkers are distinctive biological indicators of a process or condition. Any DNA or protein molecule involved in a biological process can be a potential biomarker, said Mok.

The research, carried out since 2008 by Mok and his team, included studies of 300 patients from different countries, with advanced lung cancer.

The patients were divided into two groups. One group was given bevacizumab in 7.5 mg/kg doses, the other 15 mg/kg. Meanwhile, seven biomarkers - some specific protein closely linked to the inhibition of growth of tumor vessels - were assessed.

The research found that among the seven biomarkers, VEGFA is the most critical biomarker for lung cancer and the patients with low VEGFA levels will benefit most from the bevacizumab treatment.

Professor Tony Mok explained: "VEGFA could serve as a potential biomarker for the identification of suitable patients who may benefit from receiving bevacizumab, and help doctors to tailor treatment regimens after identifying the suitable biomarkers."

The results also indicated that the low dose, at 7.5 mg/kg, has the similar efficacy as 15 mg/kg.

"At present, the bevacizumab treatment is very expensive to common patients and a treatment cycle every three weeks at 7.5 mg/kg costs about HK$15,000 -20,000, and dosages at 15 mg/kg cost around double that," Mok said.

"Thus, the newest finding will save the medical cost for patients since they can achieve the same treatment outcome with half the cost. This significantly improves the cost-effectiveness of treatment," Mok said.

The latest discoveries were unveiled at the 2011 European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress held in Stockholm, Sweden on Saturday.

fanfeifei@chinadailyhk.com

China Daily

(HK Edition 09/27/2011 page1)