Expanding the clinical development of bevacizumab.
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.
Chen
Helen X
HX
Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. chenh@ctep.nci.nih.org
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000188:drug therapy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab