The Benefits and Side Effects of Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of deaths attributable to gynecologic malignancies. Late diagnosis and a high tendency of metastasis and drug resistance often lead to recurrence and poor outcomes. Anti-angiogenesis is considered a promising therapeutic strategy for recurrent ovarian cancers. Anti-VEGF body, bevacizumab, is an angiogenesis inhibitor with demonstrated activity and tolerable toxicity.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the benefits and side effects of bevacizumab for the therapy of recurrent ovarian cancer.

METHODS: Reviewed the results of published clinical trials.

RESULTS: Recent Phase II studies indicated that bevacizumab monotherapy or in combination with conventional or other anti-angiogenic chemotherapy reagents could be effective for recurrent (platinum- sensitive and -resistant) ovarian cancers. Additionally, two phase III randomized trials reached similar conclusions that in either platinum-sensitive or -resistant ovarian cancers, adding bevacizumab to chemotherapy can improve progression-free survival. Despite the general recognition of bevacizumab as a well-tolerated drug in recurrent ovarian cancer patients, oncologists have become aware of the significant risks associated with gastrointestinal perforation.

CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab used alone or combined with other chemotherapy reagents is efficacious and tolerable in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer.