Bevacizumab
hideBevacizumab (trade name Avastin, Genentech/Roche) is a monoclonal antibody that recognises all vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms. It is used in the treatment of cancer, where it inhibits tumor growth by blocking the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Bevacizumab was the first clinically available angiogenesis inhibitor in the United States.
Bevacizumab is currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cancers that are metastatic (have spread to other parts of the body). It received its first approval in 2004 was for combination use with standard chemotherapy for metastatic colon cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. In 2008, it was approved by the FDA for use in metastatic breast cancer, a decision that generated some controversy as it went against the recommendation of its advisory panel, who objected because it only slowed tumor growth but failed to extend survival.
Clinical studies are underway in non-metastatic breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma, glioblastoma multiforme, ovarian cancer, castrate-resistant (formally called hormone refractory) prostate cancer, non-metastatic unresectable liver cancer and metastatic or unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer. A study released in April 2009 found that bevacizumab is not effective at preventing recurrences of non-metastatic colon cancer following surgery. In May 2009, it received FDA approval for treatment of reoccurring Glioblastoma Multiforme, while treatment for initial growth is still in phase III clinical trial.
For more information about Bevacizumab, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with avastin
World's first delivery of intra-arterial Avastin directly into brain tumor
Nov 17, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
Neurosurgeons from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center performed the world's first intra-arterial cerebral infusion of Avastin (bevacizumab) directly into a patient's malignant brain tumor. This novel ...
Cancer drug is no different in effectiveness as gold standard treatment for macular degeneration
Oct 09, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
Investigators from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and the VA Boston Healthcare System have shown, at 6 months in a small group of patients, that there is no difference in efficacy between Bevacizumab (Avastin) ...
Avastin dramatically improves response, survival in deadly recurrrent glioblastomas
Sep 02, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
The targeted therapy Avastin, alone and in combination with the chemotherapy drug CPT-11, significantly increased response rates, progression-free survival times and survival rates in patients with a deadly form of brain ...
Kennedy's cancer puts focus on quality of life
Aug 26, 2009 |
4.5 / 5 (2) |
0
(AP) -- He lived 15 months with an incurable brain tumor, a little longer than usual for a patient in his late 70s. Perhaps equally important is that Sen. Edward M. Kennedy lived those months well - able to work almost to ...
A crystal ball for brain cancer? New method predicts which brain tumors will respond to drug
Jul 30, 2009 |
5 / 5 (2) |
0
UCLA researchers have uncovered a new way to scan brain tumors and predict which ones will be shrunk by the drug Avastin -- before the patient ever starts treatment. By linking high water movement in tumors ...
Roche to take over Genentech for $47 billion
Medicine & Health / Medications
Mar 12, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(AP) -- Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche said Thursday it has agreed to buy California-based Genentech for $46.8 billion in a takeover described as the largest in Swiss corporate history.
MicroRNA-based Diagnostic Identifies Squamous Lung Cancer with 96% Sensitivity
Mar 10, 2009 |
4 / 5 (1) |
0
A new study shows for the first time that a microRNA-based diagnostic test can objectively identify squamous lung cancer with 96% sensitivity, according to Harvey Pass, M.D. of the NYU Cancer Institute at NYU Langone Medical ...
Doctors' resources for off-label prescribing may be incomplete, unclear
Feb 16, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
The resources doctors use to get important information about indications and reimbursement for use of cancer drugs off-label may be out-of-date and incomplete, according to a study led by researchers in the Duke Comprehensive ...
