title: Colon perforation during antiangiogenic therapy for malignant glioma.
abstract: Antiangiogenic drugs have emerged as effective treatment options for patients with recurrent malignant gliomas (MGs). Though this class of drugs is generally well tolerated, rare life-threatening complications, including thromboembolism, hemorrhage, and gastrointestinal (GI) perforation, are reported. We describe six cases of GI perforation among 244 glioma patients (2.5%) during treatment with antiangiogenic agents in combination with chemotherapy and corticosteroids. Two patients succumbed to this complication, and the others recovered. Because GI perforation is a life-threatening yet treatable complication, neurooncologists must have a low threshold to consider it in patients on antiangiogenic drug therapy who present with abdominal pain and other GI complaints.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. anorden@partners.org
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Norden
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drappatz
authors.forename: Abigail Slate
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ciampa
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: Debra Conrad
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: LaFrankie
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kesari
authors.forename: Patrick Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Wen