Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
Tumor Treating Field Therapy in Combination with Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Recurrent Glioblastoma
Published on: October 27, 2014
Bevacizumab as salvage therapy for progressive brain stem gliomas
T Reithmeier1, W O Contreras Lopez, T S Spehl
1Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. thomas.reithmeier@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Objective:
There is no standard of care for patients with progredient brain stem gliomas. Therefore, we report about clinical, radiological and metabolic response to anti-angiogenic treatment with bevacizumab in a series of 3 patients with gliomas involving the brain stem.
Patients And Methods:
Three patients with histologically confirmed gliomas involving the brain stem were treated with bevacizumab for tumor progression. The clinical data, histopathological findings as well as MRI and PET follow up examinations during bevacizumab therapy were retrospectively analyzed.
Results:
The histopathological diagnosis revealed an anaplastic astrocytoma WHO grade III in two patients and an astrocytoma WHO grade II in 1 patients with clinical and neuroradiological signs of malignization. One patient is still progression-free 97 weeks after initiation of bevacizumab therapy. Mean progression-free survival and overall survival for the other two patients after initiation of bevacizumab therapy was 34.5 weeks and 43.5 weeks. During bevacizumab therapy mean KPS improved from 60 to 80 and mean dosage of daily dexamathasone was reduced from 7.3 mg to 1.3 mg. MRI showed a decrease of T2 weighted hyperintense lesions in all patients and a decrease of contrast enhancement in two patients. (18)F-FET-PET showed a decrease of tracer uptake in all cases (mean maximum decrease: 25%).
Conclusion:
In this series treatment of progressive gliomas involving the brain stem with bevacizumab resulted in an improved clinical condition of the patients as well as a reduction of the T2 weighted lesions and reduced amino acid uptake in the tumor area. It therefore may represent a therapeutic salvage option for this type of tumor.
Insights
Bevacizumab treatment for progressive brain stem gliomas improved patient condition and reduced tumor size on MRI and PET scans. This anti-angiogenic therapy shows promise as a salvage option for these challenging tumors.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Clinical trial research
- Cancer therapeutics
Background:
- Brain stem gliomas lack a standard treatment protocol for progressive disease.
- Anti-angiogenic therapy with bevacizumab is explored for recurrent or progressive gliomas.
Observation:
- Three patients with progressive brain stem gliomas (anaplastic astrocytoma WHO grade III, astrocytoma WHO grade II) received bevacizumab.
- Clinical, radiological (MRI), and metabolic (18F-FET-PET) responses were evaluated retrospectively.
Findings:
- One patient remained progression-free for 97 weeks; others had a mean progression-free survival of 34.5 weeks.
- Bevacizumab improved Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) from 60 to 80 and reduced dexamethasone dosage.
- MRI showed decreased T2 lesions in all patients and reduced contrast enhancement in two.
- 18F-FET-PET revealed a mean 25% decrease in tracer uptake.
Implications:
- Bevacizumab may offer a therapeutic salvage option for progressive brain stem gliomas.
- Treatment led to improved clinical status and reduced tumor burden.
- Further investigation into bevacizumab for brain stem gliomas is warranted.
