Bevacizumab: a review of its use in advanced cancer

The humanized monoclonal antibody bevacizumab (Avastin(®)) has been available in the EU since 2005. Results of phase III trials demonstrate that adding intravenous bevacizumab to antineoplastic agents improves progression-free survival and/or overall survival in patients with advanced cancer, including when used as first- or second-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer, as first-line therapy in advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer, as first-line therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma, as first-line therapy in metastatic breast cancer, and as first-line therapy in epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer or in recurrent, platinum-sensitive or platinum-resistant disease. Results of these studies are supported by the findings of routine oncology practice studies conducted in real-world settings. The tolerability profile of bevacizumab is well defined and adverse events associated with its use (e.g. hypertension, proteinuria, haemorrhage, wound healing complications, arterial thromboembolism, gastrointestinal perforation) are generally manageable. In conclusion, bevacizumab remains an important option for use in patients with advanced cancer.