title: [Bevacizumab: progress in the treatment of metastatic cancer and hope for patients with proliferative retinopathy].
abstract: The formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature (neoangiogenesis) accompanies many diseases, including cancer and proliferative retinopathy. Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis and angiogeneic factors, especially vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), enables the design of drugs more potent and specific in their action and less cytotoxic. Among angiogenesis inhibitors are drugs made by means of genetic engineering, i.e. monoclonal antibodies, devoid of unwanted actions that occur during chemotherapy. One of monoclonal antibodies successfully used in clinical trials in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer is bevacizumab. Because of its inhibitory potential regarding angiogenesis it may be useful in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Although anti-VEGF agents have already been used in AMD therapy, there are several arguments, primarily financial, favoring bevacizumab's applicability in ophthalmology.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Farmakologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi, Łodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Antoniak
authors.forename: Jerzy Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Nowak
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab