Suppression of melanoma-associated neoangiogenesis by bevacizumab.
BACKGROUND
Bevacizumab, a potent antibody against the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been shown to be effective for treatment of colorectal cancer. Recently, high effectiveness of bevacizumab in combination with paclitaxel has been reported in a single metastatic melanoma case. To our knowledge, we demonstrate for the first time the antiangiogenetic effect of bevacizumab in a patient with a vitreous melanoma metastasis.


METHODS
A 68-year-old man with a vitreous melanoma metastasis of the left eye was treated with a revitrectomy combined with intravitreal bevacizumab application because of iris neovascularization and progressive epiretinal tumor plaques. Four days after the treatment, the melanoma-associated neovascularization completely disappeared, but it recurred after 6 weeks. Although repetitive administration of local bevacizumab produced the same antiangiogenetic effect, progression of the epiretinal tumor plaques could not be stopped with the local bevacizumab treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Intraocular administration of the anti-VEGF drug bevacizumab causes immediate and complete regression of melanoma-associated angiogenesis. The rationale for the therapeutic strategy in our patient was an elevated level of VEGF in the vitreous cavity. Because we could not demonstrate a direct antiproliferative effect of bevacizumab on melanoma metastasis, bevacizumab seems most promising if evaluated in combination with antiproliferative agents.
Jaissle
Gesine B
GB
University Eye Clinic, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Schleichstrasse 12, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. g.jaissle@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Ulmer
Anja
A
Henke-Fahle
Sigrid
S
Fierlbeck
Gerhard
G
Bartz-Schmidt
Karl Ulrich
KU
Szurman
Peter
P
D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018450:Disease Progression; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D015811:Iris Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D019233:Retreatment; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab