Expanding the clinical development of bevacizumab

Oncologist. 2004:9 Suppl 1:27-35. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.9-suppl_1-27.

Abstract

Bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, Inc.; South San Francisco, CA) is a recombinant, humanized monoclonal antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor, a key regulator of tumor angiogenesis. Bevacizumab demonstrated potent antitumor activity in preclinical models and has also shown biologic activity and clinical benefit in clinical studies. Notably, a randomized, placebo-controlled phase II trial in renal cell carcinoma demonstrated a significantly longer time to tumor progression with bevacizumab monotherapy. Furthermore, in a phase III trial for untreated advanced colorectal cancer, the addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy led to significantly longer overall survival and progression-free survival times than chemotherapy alone. The clinical development of bevacizumab has been expanded to include confirmatory phase III trials and exploratory phase II trials in a variety of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Treatment regimens being examined include bevacizumab alone and in combination with conventional chemotherapy, radiation, immune therapy, and biologically targeted agents.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Bevacizumab
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / drug therapy
  • Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Forecasting
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / drug therapy
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / drug effects*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Bevacizumab