The role of salvage reirradiation for malignant gliomas that progress on bevacizumab

J Neurooncol. 2010 May;97(3):401-7. doi: 10.1007/s11060-009-0034-y. Epub 2009 Oct 17.

Abstract

Bevacizumab and irinotecan are effective against recurrent malignant gliomas. However, at subsequent progression, patients rarely respond to a second bevacizumab-containing chemotherapeutic regimen. Salvage re-irradiation with bevacizumab for recurrent but bevacizumab naive malignant gliomas showed encouraging results. We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of 23 patients treated with either fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) after progression on an initial bevacizumab regimen. Patients were treated after re-irradiation with bevacizumab but combined with a different chemotherapy. We then compared them to another 23 patients who progressed on an initial bevacizumab + chemotherapy regimen. These patients did not receive re-irradiation but bevacizumab was continued combined with a different chemotherapy. Patients treated with FSRT/SRS/bevacizumab had a longer median progression-free period (2.6 vs. 1. 7 months, P = 0.009), longer median post FSRT/SRS treatment survival (7.2 vs. 3.3 months, P = 0.03) and higher radiographic response rate (22 vs. 0%, P = 0.049). FSRT or SRS followed by bevacizumab + chemotherapy may have a role for patients who progress on bevacizumab.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Bevacizumab
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / mortality
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Glioma / drug therapy*
  • Glioma / mortality
  • Glioma / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Radiosurgery / methods*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Bevacizumab