title: Current opinion on bevacizumab on endometrial cancer treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer is still a challenge for clinicians as it has a poor prognosis despite treatment efforts. Thus, there is an urgent need for new agents with activity in this subset of patients. The increased knowledge of the molecular aspects of endometrial carcinogenesis has led to the development of molecular targeted therapies and in particular anti-angiogenic drugs. One of the most promising of these agents is bevacizumab , a recombinant humanized immunoglobulin monoclonal antibody to VEGF.
  
  
  METHODS
  The objective of this paper is to discuss the role of angiogenesis in endometrial cancer and analyze the rational of bevacizumab use, alone or in combination with other therapies, in endometrial cancer patients. We reviewed the most important preclinical and clinical studies published on this topic up to March 2014.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bevacizumab in combination with others targeted therapies, chemotherapy or radiotherapy demonstrated promising anti-tumor activity. Despite the good oncological outcomes of these recent clinical experiences, caution must be used in light of significant toxicity reported in this subset of heavily pre-treated patients. The identification of biomarkers able to predict either the efficacy or toxicity of anti-angiogenic drugs is a compelling need.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS-Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , 19 Viale Camillo Golgi, 27100 Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bogliolo
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cassani
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gardella
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Musacchi
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Babilonti
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.forename: Arsenio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spinillo
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab
keywords: VEGF; anti-angiogenic therapy; bevacizumab; endometrial cancer