title: Response to bevacizumab combination chemotherapy of malignant pleural effusions associated with non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a common complication of lung cancer with devastating consequences. Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated in MPE, we hypothesized that bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF antibody, may be effective against MPE in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We analysed the records of 21 patients treated for NSCLC-associated MPE between February, 2010 and August, 2013 who consequently underwent bevacizumab combination chemotherapy at the Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation Hospital. The results were retrospectively analysed using case records and radiographic imaging records. Three patients exhibited complete response of the pleural effusion to bevacizumab treatment, 8 patients achieved a partial response (PR) and 6 patients showed no response. When efficacy was assessed by the response of the measurable primary or metastatic lesions to the treatment, 5 patients achieved a PR, 13 patients had stable disease and 3 patients exhibited progressive disease. The response rate (RR) of the pleural effusion to the antibody treatment was 71.4% and the overall RR of measurable lesions was 23.8%. The median time-to-response for pleural effusion was 132 days. In conclusion, this study demonstrated a high R R to bevacizumab combination therapy for the MPE associated with non-squamous NSCLC. Therefore, bevacizumab therapy may be considered a therapeutic option for patients with non-squamous NSCLC who develop MPE.
authors: Division of Integrated Oncology, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047 ; Department of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Aichi Cancer Center, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8681.
authors: Katsuhiro
authors: K
authors: Masago
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047.
authors: Daichi
authors: D
authors: Fujimoto
authors: Division of Integrated Oncology, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047.
authors: Shiro
authors: S
authors: Fujita
authors: Division of Integrated Oncology, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047.
authors: Akito
authors: A
authors: Hata
authors: Division of Integrated Oncology, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047.
authors: Reiko
authors: R
authors: Kaji
authors: Division of Integrated Oncology, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047 ; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Osaka 558-8585, Japan.
authors: Kyoko
authors: K
authors: Ohtsuka
authors: Division of Integrated Oncology, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047.
authors: Chiyuki
authors: C
authors: Okuda
authors: Division of Integrated Oncology, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047.
authors: Jumpei
authors: J
authors: Takeshita
authors: Division of Integrated Oncology, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047.
authors: Nobuyuki
authors: N
authors: Katakami
keywords: bevacizumab; malignant pleural effusion; non-small-cell lung cancer; vascular endothelial growth factor