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Expanding the Clinical Development of Bevacizumab

Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Helen X. Chen, M.D., Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Cancer Institute, 6130 Executive Boulevard, EPN 7131, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. Telephone: 301-496-8798; Fax: 301-402-0428; e-mail: chenh{at}ctep.nci.nih.gov

Bevacizumab (Avastin^TM; Genentech, Inc.; South San Francisco, CA) is a recombinant, humanized monoclonal antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor, a key regulator of tumor angiogenesis. Bevacizumab demonstrated potent antitumor activity in preclinical models and has also shown biologic activity and clinical benefit in clinical studies. Notably, a randomized, placebo-controlled phase II trial in renal cell carcinoma demonstrated a significantly longer time to tumor progression with bevacizumab monotherapy. Furthermore, in a phase III trial for untreated advanced colorectal cancer, the addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy led to significantly longer overall survival and progression-free survival times than chemotherapy alone. The clinical development of bevacizumab has been expanded to include confirmatory phase III trials and exploratory phase II trials in a variety of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Treatment regimens being examined include bevacizumab alone and in combination with conventional chemotherapy, radiation, immune therapy, and biologically targeted agents.

Key Words. Vascular endothelial growth factor • Clinical trial • Cancer • Monoclonal antibody • Bevacizumab

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