WASHINGTON (July 16, 2010)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says follow-up studies of the breast cancer drug Avastin show the drug failed to slow tumor growth or extend patients’ lives.

The Food and Drug Administration gave Roche's blockbuster drug conditional approval two years ago based on early-stage trials showing that it shrank tumors caused by breast cancer.

Such drugs are usually required to show increased survival time for patients.

The FDA said two follow-up studies recently submitted by the drug did not slow tumor growth to the same degree as in earlier studies.

And patients taking Avastin showed significantly more side effects, including high blood pressure, fatigue and abnormal white blood cell levels.

On Tuesday the FDA will ask a panel of outside cancer experts to review the evidence on Avastin.

The agency has the option of removing the drug's approval for breast cancer.

The FDA has also approved Avastin for colon, lung, kidney and brain cancer.