title: Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes with excess of blasts by bevacizumab is well tolerated and is associated with a decrease of VEGF plasma level.
abstract: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are associated with increased bone marrow vascularity and increased levels of various angiogenic factors including Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) which is implicated in the proliferation and survival of leukemic cells. Before the approval of hypomethylating agents in this indication, the GFM conducted a multicenter phase II trial testing the efficacy and tolerance of bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against VEGF, in MDS with excess of marrow blasts and its impact on bone marrow angiogenesis. Twenty-one patients were enrolled (16 males and five females) with a median age of 70 years and 19 were evaluable for haematological response after treatment (5 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks for 12 weeks). WHO diagnosis at baseline was RAEB-1 (38%) and RAEB-2 (62%). Treatment was well tolerated and was associated with significant decrease of VEGF plasma level [median (low quartile-high quartile)] from 65.5 pg/ml [LQ (low-quartile)-HQ (high quartile), 35.3-87.3 to 30.4 pg/ml (LQ-HQ, 22.5-34.0 pg/ml)] (p < 0.01) and reduction of bone marrow angiogenesis from a median of 20 vessels/mm(3) (LQ-HQ, 16.5-33 vessels/mm(3)) to 15.5 vessels/mm(3) (LQ-HQ, 10-23.2 vessels/mm(3)) (p = 0.03). On the other hand, only one patient had a significant haematological response with achievement of RBC transfusion independence. Thus, although bevacizumab had a significant impact on VEGF levels and angiogenesis in our patients, very few responses were seen when this drug was used as single agent. Given its good tolerability profile, however, combination of bevacizumab with other drugs, especially hypomethylating agents, could be considered in MDS.
authors.affiliation: Service d'hématologie clinique, Hôpital de l'Archet, Nice, France. legros@unice.fr
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Legros
authors.forename: Bohrane
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Slama
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Karsenti
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vey
authors.forename: Shanti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Natarajan-Amé
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Watel
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Krimo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bouabdallah
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mannone
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benchetrit
authors.forename: Irit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Touitou
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huault
authors.forename: Jérome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Durivault
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ambroseti
authors.forename: Anne-Odile
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Hueber
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fenaux
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dreyfus
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000098:blood supply; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab