Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2016; 76 - P125
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1593012

Prospective evaluation of QTc-interval prolongation in patients with advanced ovarian cancer after treatment with carboplatin, paclitaxel and bevacizumab

J Puppe 1, D van Ooyen 1, J Neise 1, F Thangarajah 1, C Eichler 2, C Fridrich 1, B Morgenstern 1, R Pfister 3, P Mallmann 1, M Wirtz 1, G Michels 3
  • 1University Hospital Cologne, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cologne, Deutschland
  • 2Holweide Hospital, Breast Center, Cologne, Deutschland
  • 3Heart Centre of the University of Cologne, Department III of Internal Medicine, Cologne, Deutschland

Background: Angiogenesis has become an important target for antineoplastic therapy of advanced ovarian cancer and the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab directed against the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is broadly used in the clinic. This drug is associated with cardiovacular toxicities such as hypertension. However, the effect of bevacizumab on life-threatening electrocardiographic alterations including corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation remains unclear.

Patients and methods: In this feasibility study we assessed the effect of carboplatin (AUC 6), paclitaxel (175 mg/m2), and bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) q21 on the QTc interval in 8 patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Cardiac toxicity was assessed with symptoms, transthoracic echocardiography, electrocardiography (ECG) and serum cardiac markers at baseline, and after 6 cycles. To evaluate the influence of interobserver variation the QTc interval was analyzed by a cardiologist, gynecologist and automated ECG interpretation software.

Results: No abnormal QTc-prolongation after treatment with carboplatin, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab was observed independent of its investigator. In addition, serum cardiac markers were within normal ranges after treatment. No clinically relevant effect on left ventricular systolic function (LVEF) was observed.

Conclusions: This data suggested that treatment with carboplatin, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab is not significantly affecting the QTc interval in women with advanced ovarian cancer at the dose and exposures studied. Due to the small number of patients further conclusions are limited.