title: Initial experience with bevacizumab treatment for biopsy confirmed cerebral radiation necrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cerebral radiation necrosis is a serious complication of radiation treatment for brain tumors. Therapeutic options include corticosteroids, anticoagulation and hyperbaric oxygen with limited efficacy. Bevacizumab, an antibody against VEGF had been reported to reduce edema in patients with suspected radiation necrosis. We retrospectively reviewed 6 patients with biopsy proven cerebral radiation necrosis treated with bevacizumab between 2006 and 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interval MRI follow-up demonstrated radiographic response in all patients with an average reduction of 79% for the post gadolinium studies and 49% for the FLAIR images. The initial partial radiographic response was noted for up to a mean follow-up time of 5.9 months (6 weeks to 18 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bevacizumab appears to produce radiographic response and clinical benefits in the treatment of patients with cerebral radionecrosis.
authors.affiliation: Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, 2799 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. nsroy@neuro.hfh.edu
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torcuator
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zuniga
authors.forename: Yedathore S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rock
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Rajan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenblum
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab