Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody bevacizumab in conjunction with chemotherapy in metastasising melanoma.
OBJECTIVE
The combination of the antiangiogenic antibody bevacizumab with standard chemotherapy has improved the prognosis in patients with metastastic colorectal cancer and other advanced cancers. The role of combined anti-VEGF and chemotherapy in metastastic melanoma is just starting to be elucidated.


METHODS
We tested this notion in three patients with advanced and therapy-refractory melanoma.


RESULTS
Interestingly, two patients achieved objective regressions after three courses of therapy; the third patient, albeit progressing demonstrated a pronounced liquid necrosis in bulky lymphnode metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies are warranted to scrutinize these impressive therapeutic effects on the combination of bevacizumab and chemotherapy in melanoma.
Terheyden
Patrick
P
Hofmann
Maja Ann
MA
Weininger
M
M
Bröcker
Eva-B
EB
Becker
Jürgen C
JC
D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab