Cancer
Bevacizumab
Anti-angiogenesis treatments are viewed as a crucial tool in the fight against cancer, as they prevent the growth of existing tumors, the development of new ones, and can even eradicate tumors by cutting off their blood supply and consequently their supply of nutrients. Bevacizumab is essentially a monoclonal antibody that binds to endothelial cell receptors and suppresses the activity of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This prevents the cancer cells from sending a signal that would otherwise cause the growth of a new blood vessel.
Depending on the type of cancer being treated, bevacizumab treatment is administered in conjunction with chemotherapy. Thus:
• in metastatic colon cancer or rectal cancer, it is combined with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy;
• in local, recurrent or metastatic breast cancer, it is used as first-line treatment in combination with paclitaxel, if anthracycline-based therapy is contraindicated. If patients are ineligible for paclitaxel or anthracycline-based chemotherapy, it can also be utilized as first-line therapy along with capecitabine;
• in advanced, metastatic, or relapsed non-small cell lung cancer it is used in conjunction with platinum salts and paclitaxel, and in combination with elotinib for non-small cell bronchopulmonary neoplasm;
• in advanced and/or metastatic renal cancer, in combination with interferon alfa-2a;
• in epithelial ovarian cancer (stages IIIB, IIIC and IV), of the fallopian tubes or with primary peritoneal neoplasm in advanced stages, it is used as first-line treatment in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel;
• in grade IV glioma, it is administered as a single agent after relapse or disease progression following standard therapy, including chemotherapy;
• in cervical cancer, it is used in combination with paclitaxel and cisplatin for the treatment of persistent, recurrent or metastatic carcinoma.
Because of the potential side effects, bevacizumab is administered with careful monitoring of symptoms and is discontinued if any of these occur.
• in metastatic colon cancer or rectal cancer, it is combined with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy;
• in local, recurrent or metastatic breast cancer, it is used as first-line treatment in combination with paclitaxel, if anthracycline-based therapy is contraindicated. If patients are ineligible for paclitaxel or anthracycline-based chemotherapy, it can also be utilized as first-line therapy along with capecitabine;
• in advanced, metastatic, or relapsed non-small cell lung cancer it is used in conjunction with platinum salts and paclitaxel, and in combination with elotinib for non-small cell bronchopulmonary neoplasm;
• in advanced and/or metastatic renal cancer, in combination with interferon alfa-2a;
• in epithelial ovarian cancer (stages IIIB, IIIC and IV), of the fallopian tubes or with primary peritoneal neoplasm in advanced stages, it is used as first-line treatment in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel;
• in grade IV glioma, it is administered as a single agent after relapse or disease progression following standard therapy, including chemotherapy;
• in cervical cancer, it is used in combination with paclitaxel and cisplatin for the treatment of persistent, recurrent or metastatic carcinoma.
Because of the potential side effects, bevacizumab is administered with careful monitoring of symptoms and is discontinued if any of these occur.