title: ASCO 2013: bevacizumab and glioblastoma--a marriage dissolution?
abstract: The prognosis of patients affected by glioblastoma (GBM) is grim albeit the integrated therapeutic approaches now available. Standard surgery followed by chemoradiation median overall survival (OS) reaches 15 months in clinical trials. Despite primary treatment, recurrence is the rule in patients with GBM and for them OS ranges from 6 to 9 months. In recent years, the therapeutic scenario has been profoundly changed in view of the promising results obtained by bevacizumab (Avastin * *Avastin is a registered trade name of Bevacizumab, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland. ), the most promising anti-angiogenesis agent, in two clinical trials. The results of both trials were presented at the last ASCO meeting in Chicago. Progression free survival was significantly improved with an acceptable safety and tolerability profile but surprisingly quality of life was preserved only in the AVAGlio trial. However, both studies showed that overall survival was not improved adding bevacizumab to temozolomide and radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Unit, 'San Giovanni di Dio' Hospital ASLNA2 NORD , Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Addeo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perri
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parlato
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Della Vittoria
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab
keywords: Bevacizumab; Chemotherapy; Glioblastoma; Quality of life