title: Bevacizumab in Ovarian Cancer: State of the Art and Unanswered Questions.
abstract: Ovarian cancer is a most lethal gynecologic tumor. The mainstay treatment is cytoreductive surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. However, a high percentage of patients recur, thus needing multiple treatments with a frequently poor prognosis. In the last two decades, research has focused on the potential of target therapies to improve the survival of patients affected by ovarian cancer. Bevacizumab is one of the most studied target therapies, and it is approved for first- and second-line treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal tumors. Despite its widespread use with favorable results, controversy regarding patient selection and the best schedule, dosage, and timing of bevacizumab still exists. This review summarizes the state of the art on the use of bevacizumab for ovarian cancer in front-line, recurrence, and neoadjuvant settings. This study focuses on the results of pivotal trials, emerging data, ongoing research, and still unanswered questions about the most adequate dosage of bevacizumab and its potential activity after disease progression or rechallenge in previously treated patients.
authors: Department of Gynecological-Obstetrical and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Musella
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Vertechy
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Romito
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Marchetti
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Giannini
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Sciuga
authors: Carlotta
authors: C
authors: Bracchi
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Tomao
authors: Violante
authors: V
authors: Di Donato
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: De Felice
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Monti
authors: Ludovico
authors: L
authors: Muzii
authors: Pierluigi
authors: P
authors: Benedetti Panici
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000068258:Bevacizumab