title: Using bevacizumab in the fight against malignant glioma: first results in Asian patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy and safety profile of bevacizumab in combination with irinotecan in Hong Kong Chinese patients with recurrent malignant glioma and to determine whether their response differed from that reported in other populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two private clinics and a public hospital in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen individuals who presented with recurrent glioma presenting to the hospital between November 2005 and November 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Salvage therapy with bevacizumab (10 mg/kg) and irinotecan (125 mg/m(2) [340 mg/m(2) for those taking enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs]) on a 14-day schedule.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A radiological response was observed in 12 (86%) of the patients, four (33%) of whom had a complete response. The median progression-free survival was 6 (range, 1-15) months; 71% remained progression-free at 6 months. The median overall survival was 18 (range, 9-61) months. The most common adverse events during the bevacizumab and irinotecan treatment period were haematological; five patients had grade 2/3 adverse events. Pulmonary embolism occurred in two patients, one of whom died. Intracranial haemorrhage was not detected in any of the 14 treated patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bevacizumab plus irinotecan was at least as effective at treating Chinese patients with recurrent glioma as previously reported in clinical trials in different patient populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. ksjpu@hkucc.hku.hk
authors.forename: J K S
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.forename: R T T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: G K B
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: G K K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin