title: Significant anti-tumor effect of bevacizumab in treatment of pineal gland glioblastoma multiforme.
abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive subtype of malignant gliomas. Current standard treatment for GBM involves a combination of cytoreduction through surgical resection, followed by radiation with concomitant and adjuvant chemotherapy (temozolomide). The role of bevacizumab in the treatment of GBM continues to be a topic of ongoing research and debate. Despite aggressive treatment, these tumors remain undoubtedly fatal, especially in the elderly. Furthermore, tumors present in the pineal gland are extremely rare, accounting for only 0.1-0.4 % of all adult brain tumors, with this location adding to the complexity of treatment. We present a case of GBM, at the rare location of pineal gland, in an elderly patient who was refractory to initial standard of care treatment with radiation and concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide, but who developed a significant response to anti-angiogenic therapy using bevacizumab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.forename: Braxton
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Macomson
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rixe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D000077204:Temozolomide; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide