Antiangiogenic Therapy for Breast Cancer: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back?

Bevacizumab has not been approved yet for treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer, despite evidence of benefit.

Bevacizumab (Avastin) is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against all isoforms of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), which play a dominant role in tumor angiogenesis. Bevacizumab currently is FDA-approved as a component of treatment regimens for colorectal and lung carcinomas. Early experience with single-agent bevacizumab in patients with metastatic disease demonstrated modest antitumor activity. The objective response rate (ORR) was about 10%, with an additional 17% of patients maintaining stable disease (Breast Cancer Res Treat 2001; 69:301).

In the first registration trial, researchers compared single-agent capecitabine to the combination of capecitabine plus bevacizumab in patients with previously treated metastatic …

Reviewing Author

William J. Gradishar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead

Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation

Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)