Dr. Holcombe Discusses Aflibercept for mCRC

Randall F. Holcombe, MD, Associate Director for Clinical Affairs and Director of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology for the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai Medical Center, speaks about the use of aflibercept in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Aflibercept is a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) trap and works in a similar way to bevacizumab (Avastin) to block blood vessel formation in tumors. Aflibercept is currently approved for use in the second-line in combination with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan (FOLFIRI) in patients with mCRC.

The phase III VELOUR trial showed the survival benefit of aflibercept compared to placebo. The median overall survival was 12.06 months in the placebo plus FOLFIRI arm vs 13.50 months in the aflibercept plus FOLFIRI arm (P = .0032; HR=0.82 [95.34% CI: 0.71 to 0.94]).

Aflibercept and bevacizumab have not been compared head-to-head, which makes aflibercept's role less clear, Holcombe says. It will take time and research to determine where aflibercept fits into the treatment regimen of mCRC.