title: Bevacizumab in recurrent high-grade pediatric gliomas.
abstract: Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, has shown promise in treating recurrent adult high-grade glioma (HGG). However, there is very little data on recurrent or progressive pediatric HGG treated with bevacizumab. We report the results of a single institution experience using bevacizumab and irinotecan in children who relapsed or progressed following standard therapy. Twelve pediatric patients with recurrent or progressive HGG received bevacizumab at 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks with irinotecan at 125 mg/m(2). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed prior to therapy and every 8 weeks subsequently. Ten patients had supratentorial HGG; 2 had DIPG. Radiological responses were defined according to MacDonald's criteria. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicities were analyzed. Ten (83.3%) patients tolerated bevacizumab without serious toxicity. Therapy was discontinued in 1 patient because of anaphylaxis. Another patient developed grade III delayed wound healing and deep vein thrombosis. Two patients (16.7%) experienced a partial response after the first MRI. No complete radiographic responses were seen. Stable disease was noted in 4 (33.3%) patients. The median PFS and OS were 2.25 and 6.25 months, respectively. A diffuse invasive recurrence pattern was noted in 5 (45.5%) patients. Treatment tolerance, toxicity, and recurrence profiles were comparable to adult HGG patients treated with bevacizumab. However, the radiological response rate, response duration, and survival appeared inferior in pediatric patients. Genetic differences in pediatric gliomas might account for this difference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York 10016, USA. ashwatha.narayana@nyumc.org
authors.forename: Ashwatha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narayana
authors.forename: Saroj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kunnakkat
authors.forename: Jeena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chacko-Mathew
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karajannis
authors.forename: Shahzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wisoff
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weiner
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harter
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin