Intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin plus bevacizumab for the management of malignant ascites in ovarian epithelial cancer: results of a phase III clinical trial

Bevacizumab is a humanized antihuman VEGF-A monoclonal antibody. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin plus bevacizumab (Avastin) in the management of malignant ascites in ovarian epithelial cancer. Fifty-eight ovarian epithelial cancer patients with malignant ascites were randomly assigned to receive either intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin only (control group, n = 27, cisplatin: 40 mg/m 2 every 2 weeks, for 6 weeks) or cisplatin plus bevacizumab (study group, n = 31, cisplatin: 40 mg/m 2 , bevacizumab: 300 mg, every 2 weeks for 6 weeks). All patients regularly received TC regimen (paclitaxel 135 mg/m 2 d1 + carboplatin AUC 5 d1) every 3 weeks. The outcome, quality of life (QoL) and adverse effect of the treatment were analyzed, and VEGF and CA-125 level in ascites were detected by ELISA. After treatment with cisplatin plus bevacizumab, VEGF level in ascites was significantly decreased compared to baseline ( P