Antiangiogenic therapy of brain tumors: the role of bevacizumab.
Angiogenesis is one of the hallmarks of cancer, including brain tumors. Malignant gliomas have the highest degree of vascular proliferation among solid tumors; thus, angiogenic pathways represent an attractive target to interfere with tumor growth. Up to date VEGF pathway targeting with specific drugs has yielded interesting therapeutics results. In particular bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against VEGF-A, has shown clinical activity in malignant gliomas, especially glioblastomas, in terms of a high response rate on MRI and a significant increase in progression-free survival.
Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neuroscience, University and AO Città della Salute e della Scienza, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126, Turin, Italy, elisa.trevisan73@libero.it.
Elisa
E
Trevisan
Luca
L
Bertero
Chiara
C
Bosa
Michela
M
Magistrello
Alessia
A
Pellerino
Roberta
R
Rudà
Riccardo
R
Soffietti
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000276:immunology
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000068258:Bevacizumab