Pharmaceutical maker Roche Holding AG said Monday it had stopped recruiting patients to test its cancer drug Avastin in late stage clinical trials after the deaths of some patients.

The Basel, Switzerland-based company said it had stopped adding patients to its Phase III trial, known as AVANT, which tests Avastin in combination with other drugs to treat post-surgical colon cancer.

There will be a further review of safety data after the deaths of four patients in one part of the trial, the company said.