Bevacizumab in advanced NSCLC: chemotherapy partners and duration of use

Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2013 Dec;14(4):595-609. doi: 10.1007/s11864-013-0255-3.

Abstract

Bevacizumab is an effective targeted therapy with demonstrated survival benefits for many patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Some patient populations are at higher risk for bleeding complications and bevacizumab should be avoided, but advanced age should not be used as the sole exclusion criterion for use. Bevacizumab is generally a well-tolerated therapy that can be safely given in combination with multiple chemotherapy agents in the induction and maintenance phases of therapy. The optimal maintenance strategy is yet to be determined and is the focus of ongoing trials, such as ECOG 5508. Early use of bevacizumab in the adjuvant setting and continued use in the second-line setting are being investigated in current clinical trials.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bevacizumab
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / secondary
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Hemorrhage / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Bevacizumab