Use of anti-VEGF adjuvant therapy in cancer: challenges and rationale.
Several ongoing clinical studies are designed to test the efficacy of antiangiogenic therapies in the adjuvant setting, where the goal is to increase the cure rate in patients who have just undergone surgical resection of all visible disease. Tumors depend on angiogenesis to support their growth and progression and blockade of this process has proven to be a valid strategy for treating multiple types of advanced metastatic cancer. However, results from the first of these clinical adjuvant studies were disappointing, stimulating extensive debate as to the potential of this approach. It will require additional clinical studies before we realize whether the effects of angiogenic blockade are durable, and if they are able to cure a subset of patients with early stage cancer.
Bagri
Anil
A
Tumor Biology and Angiogenesis Department, Genentech, Inc, One DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
Kouros-Mehr
Hosein
H
Leong
Kevin G
KG
Plowman
Greg D
GD
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000276:immunology
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab