Antiangiogenic therapies for glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is the most prevalent malignant primary brain tumor in adults and to date effective durable treatments are lacking. Preclinical studies underscore the importance of neovascularization for tumor survival, making angiogenesis an important treatment target. Early clinical experience in recurrent glioblastoma suggested that antiangiogenic agents may provide clinical benefit by prolonging progression-free survival, improving quality of life and decreasing peritumoral edema. Two recent Phase III randomized trials of antiangiogenic therapy at initial diagnosis suggested improvement in progression-free survival, but failed to show an overall survival benefit. Ongoing preclinical research focuses on mechanisms of resistance and potential predictive biomarkers. Identification of targets to resistance pathways and of predictive biomarkers will hopefully improve efficacy of antiangiogenic therapies.