title: The Benefits and Side Effects of Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of deaths attributable to gynecologic malignancies. Late diagnosis and a high tendency of metastasis and drug resistance often lead to recurrence and poor outcomes. Anti-angiogenesis is considered a promising therapeutic strategy for recurrent ovarian cancers. Anti-VEGF body, bevacizumab, is an angiogenesis inhibitor with demonstrated activity and tolerable toxicity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate the benefits and side effects of bevacizumab for the therapy of recurrent ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reviewed the results of published clinical trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent Phase II studies indicated that bevacizumab monotherapy or in combination with conventional or other anti-angiogenic chemotherapy reagents could be effective for recurrent (platinum- sensitive and -resistant) ovarian cancers. Additionally, two phase III randomized trials reached similar conclusions that in either platinum-sensitive or -resistant ovarian cancers, adding bevacizumab to chemotherapy can improve progression-free survival. Despite the general recognition of bevacizumab as a well-tolerated drug in recurrent ovarian cancer patients, oncologists have become aware of the significant risks associated with gastrointestinal perforation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bevacizumab used alone or combined with other chemotherapy reagents is efficacious and tolerable in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Wenwen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Zhaojun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No. 109 Xueyuan Xi Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China.
authors.forename: Xueqiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000074322:Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000074322:Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; D000068258:Bevacizumab
keywords: Bevacizumab; chemotherapy; efficacy; ovarian cancer; recurrent; safety