Systemic Bevacizumab for Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis: A Single Center Experience of Two Cases

BACKGROUND Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), is the most common benign neoplasm of the larynx and central airways. RRP has a significant impact on quality life and high annual costs to healthcare. Currently, there is no cure for RRP, leading to repeated debulking operations for symptomatic palliation. Various local adjuvant therapies have also been studied with mixed efficacy. HPV oncogene products increase expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) providing a potential target for treatment of RRP. Bevacizumab, a recombinant monoclonal antibody that inhibits VEGF, has shown efficacy in patients with localized disease. CASE REPORT We present two cases of extensive airway and parenchymal RRP successfully managed with systemically administered bevacizumab, a recombinant monoclonal antibody that inhibits VEGF. CONCLUSIONS Bevacizumab has shown efficacy in patients with localized disease, but here we illustrate the potential of bevacizumab for patients with extensive parenchymal burden as well as provide a brief review of the literature.