Bevacizumab for Breast Cancer: What's Next?

The use of bevacizumab has declined as a result of the FDA's decision in 2011 to withdraw the indication for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Although NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) practice guidelines still support bevacizumab's use for advanced breast cancer, ongoing debate about this agent has centered on lack of a defined subset of patients in whom bevacizumab is effective, lack of overall survival benefits, occasional but serious adverse effects, and substantial financial costs. These are important issues — yet most clinicians believe that some of their patients have benefited from bevacizumab. Two research groups are conducting trials of bevacizumab in the neoadjuvant setting.

In the industry-funded GeparQuinto stud…