Bevacizumab Therapy for Pilomyxoid Astrocytoma

Pilomyxoid astrocytoma is a rare tumor of the central nervous system generally found in young children near the hypothalamus. Herein, we report a 19-month-old female infant with a pilomyxoid astrocytoma, who underwent surgery as well as carboplatin and vincristine chemotherapy in an attempt to delay radiation therapy to the brain. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the tumor had increased in tumor volume on therapy. Chemotherapy with carboplatin and vincristine was stopped and bevacizumab therapy (10 mg/kg every other week) was initiated. After 15 months of bevacizumab therapy, the patient's tumor was significantly smaller. Bevacizumab therapy was discontinued for 6 months due to stability in tumor size but was resumed after tumor growth was observed. Patient was again placed on bevacizumab therapy with subsequent magnetic resonance imagings revealing a decrease in tumor size.