Bevacizumab improves splenomegaly and decreases production of hyaluronic acid after L-OHP based chemotherapy

Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy can cause hepatic sinusoidal injury such as sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (SOS). Spleen size is correlated with sinusoidal damage, and serum hyaluronic acid is also a marker of SOS. The aim of the present study was to clarify the impact of the current chemotherapeutic regimen plus bevacizumab against oxaliplatin-associated hepatic damage with serum hyaluronic acid and spleen size. Sixteen adult patients with colorectal cancer and liver metastasis were evaluated retrospectively. In the bevacizumab-treated group (n=9), oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy with bevacizumab prior to hepatic resection was administered, while oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy-alone was administered prior to hepatic resection in the control group (n=7). Hepatic sinusoidal injury, change in spleen size and serum value of hyaluronic acid were evaluated. The incidence and severity of sinusoidal dilation was lower in the bevacizumab group than in the control group (moderate or severe: 2/9 (22.2%) vs. 5/7 (71.4%), incidence of sinusoidal dialation: 5/9 (55.6%) vs. 7/7 (100%), both p