Emerging antiangiogenic treatments for gliomas - efficacy and safety issues.
OBJECTIVE
To review the rationale and recent experience of angiogenesis inhibitors in malignant gliomas and to highlight both the promise and potential complications of these agents.


RESULTS
Several new agents targeting angiogenesis in malignant gliomas have become available and have been increasingly used to complement conventional chemotherapy. Specifically, bevacizumab, often in combination with irinotecan, has demonstrated favorable results in achieving significant radiographic responses and in prolonging progression-free survival in patients with recurrent malignant glioma.


CONCLUSIONS
Antiangiogenic drugs have been shown to have promising activity in recurrent malignant gliomas. Investigation of novel antiangiogenic compounds and future clinical trials will determine whether these drugs have a role in first-line therapy. This article reviews the rationale for targeting angiogenesis in malignant brain tumors and summarizes the results of recent clinical trials. In addition, this review will outline potential toxicities associated with angiogenesis inhibition in an attempt to provide practical guidance to physicians treating patients with malignant gliomas.
Dietrich
Jörg
J
Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Norden
Andrew D
AD
Wen
Patrick Y
PY
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors