A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Bevacizumab in Combination With Chemotherapy in Previously Treated Metastatic Breast Cancer (RIBBON 2)

For all Outcome Measures except Overall Survival and One-year Survival, the Time Frame was from Baseline to data cut-off for analysis of the primary Outcome Measure (up to 3 years 2 months). For the Outcome Measures Overall Survival and One-year Survival, the Time Frame was from Baseline to the end of the study (up to 6 years, 7 months).

Inclusion criteria

• Signed informed consent form.
• ≥ 18 years of age.
• Histologically confirmed carcinoma of the breast with measurable or non-measurable metastatic disease that has progressed (patients with a history of brain metastasis are eligible for study participation [USA only], as long as their brain metastases have been treated and they have no evidence of progression or hemorrhage after treatment and no ongoing requirement for dexamethasone).
• Progression of disease during or following administration of one (non-investigational) chemotherapy regimen administered in the first-line setting.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1.
• For women of childbearing potential, use of an effective means of non-hormonal contraception.
• Life expectancy ≥ 3 months.
• Willingness and capacity to comply with study and follow-up procedures.

Exclusion criteria

• Prior hormonal therapy only as treatment for metastatic disease without chemotherapy. Patients must have received chemotherapy for their metastatic disease in the first-line setting. Hormone therapy alone is not allowed.
• For subjects who have received prior anthracycline-based therapy, documentation of left ventricular ejection fraction < 50% by either multiple gated acquisition (MUGA) or echocardiogram (ECHO).
• Treatment with more than one prior cytotoxic regimen for metastatic breast cancer (MBC).
• HER2-positive status (patients who have unknown HER2 status, and for whom determination of HER2 status is not possible, are eligible for this study).
• Unknown estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status.
• Radiation therapy other than for palliation or brain metastasis, biologic therapy, or chemotherapy for MBC within 21 days prior to Day 0 (Day 1 of Cycle 1 of treatment).
• Prior therapy with bevacizumab or other vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway-targeted therapy.
• Untreated brain metastasis.
• Inadequately controlled hypertension.
• Unstable angina.
• New York Heart Association Grade II or greater congestive heart failure (CHF).
• History of myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to Day 0 (the day of the first bevacizumab/placebo infusion).
• History of stroke or transient ischemic attack within 6 months prior to Day 0.
• Clinically significant peripheral vascular disease.
• Evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy.
• Major surgical procedure, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to Day 0; anticipation of need for major elective surgical procedure during the study.
• Minor surgical procedures, fine-needle aspirations, or core biopsies within 7 days prior to Day 0.
• History of abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within 6 months prior to Day 0.
• Serious, non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture.
• History of anaphylactic reaction to monoclonal antibody therapy not controlled with treatment premedication.
• History of other malignancies within 5 years of Day 0, except for tumors with a negligible risk for metastasis or death, such as adequately controlled basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix.
• inadequate organ function.
• Pregnancy (positive serum pregnancy test) or lactation.
• Any other diseases, metabolic dysfunction, physical examination finding, or clinical laboratory finding giving reasonable suspicion of a disease or condition that contraindicates the use of an investigational drug or that may affect the interpretation of the results or renders the subject at high risk from treatment complications.