Role of bevacizumab therapy in the management of glioblastoma

Abstract

Glioblastoma is one of the most common primary brain tumors and one of the most difficult to treat. In population-based studies only 30% of patients will survive 1 year and in the most efficacious surgery, irradiation, and chemotherapy clinical trials approximately 20% will live 2 years. Bevacizumab is a recombinant, antivascular epidermal growth factor receptor (VEGF) monoclonal antibody with 6 VEGF-binding residues that binds to VEGF, preventing VEGF from binding to its target, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, on endothelial cells. Through its binding to VEGF ligands bevacizumab reduces tumor angiogenesis and vasogenic brain edema; the consequences are that bevacizumab reduces the rate of glioblastoma tumor growth and its associated tumoral edema, thereby improving quality of life and survival for patients suffering from cerebral glioblastoma. In this review, we will summarize the studies that led to the use of bevacizumab in glioblastoma and the potential side-effects and complications that can be associated with its use and, finally, new opportunities for drug combinations with bevacizumab.

Keywords:

• chemotherapy
• VEGF
• edema
• central nervous system

Introduction

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a primary brain tumor arising from cells of astrocytic lineage. GBM is one of the most common and aggressive malignancies of the central nervous system (CNS). Despite its aggressiveness, there are molecular differences among all glioblastomas that result in a range of responsiveness to treatment. Primary glioblastomas arise without a preceding low grade glioma, often show amplification of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and murine double minute 2 (MDM2), along with inactivation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and p16 tumor suppressor genes. Secondary glioblastomas often have loss of p53 and pRB, as well as an increase in CDK4/6 expression. In 2005, Hegi and colleagues were able to show that outcome for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastomas depended on the methylation status of O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), with median survival increasing to 21.7 months in those with methylation of MGMT treated with both external beam irradiation and temozolomide.¹ As a result, molecular profiling of glioblastoma tissue collected at surgery is becoming important to patient treatment considerations and care.

The incidence rate of GBM is 3.1 per 100,000 person-years,² overall incidence of gliomas is greater in males (7.2 per 100,000 person-years) compared to females (5.0 per 100,000 person-years) and increases with age to 14/100,000 over age 65. The incidence rate is also greater amongst Caucasians compared to other ethnicities, and 18.5% of all brain tumors are GBM.²

The median age at diagnosis of GBM is 64 years, and GBM is the second most common primary brain tumor behind only meningioma in patients at least 45 years of age.² Based on general tumor registry data, approximately 29.6% of patients with GBM will survival 1 year, whereas only 3.4% will survive 5 years with treatment.²

Studies evaluating risk factors for brain tumors have thus far shown previous exposure to ionizing radiation as a statistically significant risk factor, but no conclusive evidence yet supports electromagnetic fields, cell phones, neurocarcinogens or metals as increasing risk of brain tumor development.³ There are specific genetic disorders that are associated with an increased risk for developing malignancies, including brain tumors, and these include Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Neurofibromatosis, Tuberous Sclerosis, von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, and Turcot syndrome, but only 5% to 10% of brain tumors are inherited.⁴

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways and high-grade gliomas

VEGF is a potent endothelial cell mitogen and key regulator of both physiologic vasculogenesis in the embryonic circulatory system⁵ and pathologic angiogenesis leading to the growth of blood vessels from existing vasculature.^6,7 VEGF has also been shown to stimulate monocyte/macrophage migration,^8–10 stimulate tumor cell migration,^11–15 and enhance vascular permeability in tight-junction endothelial environments such as those of the intact blood-brain barrier.^16–18

There are five known subtypes of VEGF (VEGF-A, -B, -C, -D and -E) and three known VEGF receptors (VEGFR-1, -2 and -3), all of which are tyrosine kinases.¹⁹ VEGF A, VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) and VEGFR-2 (KDR/Flk-1) are all highly expressed in the CNS. For CNS tumors, VEGF-A appears to bind to VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 and serve a particularly critical role for both angiogenesis and regulation of vascular permeability of the blood – brain barrier.^6,16–18 VEGF-A stimulates endothelial proliferation via binding to VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-1 is involved in recruitment of macrophages/monocytes that in turn secrete pro-angiogenic factors. VEGF-A is known to stimulate vascular leakage, in particular through VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2,¹⁹ and this may contribute to the destabilization (increasing leakiness) of the blood – brain barrier that is often seen in malignant gliomas. Malignant gliomas as well as many other cancers are known to secrete VEGF as a means to stimulate the development of tumor vascular supply (angiogenesis). In turn, expression of VEGF appears to be upregulated by hypoxia as well as a variety of signal and transcription factors.¹⁹ Specifically upregulated by hypoxia are:

1. HIF-1α^20,21

2. STAT3^22,23

3. Src^20,24

4. EGFR pathway^25,26

5. FoxM1B transcription factor²⁷

6. Hurl suppresses degradation of VEGF-A mRNA^28,29

While it is important to identify increased expression of VEGF-A, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in malignant gliomas, correlation to tumor growth is instrumental as well. Kerber and colleagues studied mice with transplanted glioma cells and mice transplanted with either wild-type bone marrow cells or with VEGFR-1 lacking a tyrosine kinase domain.³⁰ They found, using an original glioma cell line and a VEGF-A overexpressing cell line, that a significant reduction in growth of tumor was observed in those mice lacking wild-type VEGFR-1. Studies such as this suggest that VEGF-A and VEGFR-1 may be critical pathways in the growth of malignant gliomas.

Preclinical pharmacology studies

Bevacizumab is a recombinant, anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody with 6 VEGF-binding residues that binds to VEGF, preventing VEGF from binding to its target, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, on endothelial cells.³¹ Bao and colleagues examined stem cell-like glioma cells (SCLGC) to determine if such cells may be involved in angiogenesis and tumor development.³² SCLGC were isolated from human glioblastoma tissue and implanted intracranially into mice. SCLGC, when compared to matched non-SCLGC controls, exhibited higher concentrations of VEGF, and hypoxia seemed to induce VEGF expression. Bevacizumab eliminated angiogenesis and suppressed growth of SCLGC, when compared to matched non-SCLGC controls. The authors concluded that stem-cell like tumors cells could contribute to angiogenesis in certain forms of cancer, such as gliomas.

Preclinical evaluation of antiangiogenic protein expression in four glioma cell lines after treatment with temozolomide found that levels of HIF-1a, ID-1, ID-2 and c-Myc were all reduced. Since these four factors are believed to be involved in angiogenesis and hypoxic metabolism, it was hypothesized that by reducing the levels of these factors, temozolomide may contribute to the reduction of angiogenesis in glioma. The authors also found that, when bevacizumab was added to temozolomide, the survival of mice with glioma improved, compared to mice treated with either compound alone.³³

To test the hypothesis that inhibition of hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), when given with antiangiogenic agents, might be more efficacious, bevacizumab was given alone or with topotecan, a topoisomerase inhibitor, with HIF-1α inhibitor activity.³⁴ Using U251-HRE xenografts, the authors showed that bevacizumab reduced microvessel density and increased hypoxia and expression of the HIF-1 dependent gene in the tumor, but it did not induce apoptosis. The addition of topotecan to bevacizumab significantly reduced tumor growth, compared to mice treated with topotecan or bevacizumab alone. Topotecan also reduced expression of HIF-1 and inhibited proliferation while inducing apoptosis. Since the cytotoxic benefit of topotecan did not change with the addition of bevacizumab, the authors concluded that topotecan exerted its effect by HIF-1 inhibition. Furthermore, they hypothesized that bevacizumab, functioning as an anti-angiogenesis agent, may represent a potentially beneficial two-drug treatment strategy.³⁴

Clinical phase II studies at tumor recurrence

It is apparent from preclinical studies that VEGF is important for growth of endothelial cells and regulation of tumor angiogenesis; treatment with bevacizumab in vascular tumors like malignant gliomas was anticipated for many years prior to the initiation of formal clinical studies. Nonetheless, the first documented usage of bevacizumab in patients with glioblastoma was in an uncontrolled clinical trial by Stark-Vance in 2005. She presented a series of 29 patients, all with recurrent malignant glioma, treated with bevacizumab in combination with irinotecan.³⁵ Stark-Vance used bevacizumab 5 mg/kg and irinotecan 125 mg/m² together, intravenously, every 2 weeks, with a 1- to 2-week break between each cycle. There were 3 complete responses (CR), 16 partial responses (PR) and 7 stable diseases (SD); thus, at least 65% of patients in this case series achieved a response to treatment. Toxicities attributed to bevacizumab included 1 intracranial hemorrhage, 1 bowel perforation, 2 wound-healing abnormalities and 5 cases of epistaxis.³⁵

The schedule of most phase 2 studies was based on an intravenous treatment with bevacizumab on a once every 14-day schedule. This was established by Genentech based on the plasma clearance half-life of approximately 21 days. While toxicity secondary to bevacizumat is generally mild, nevertheless, since bevacizumab may interfere with wound healing, it is recommended today to wait a minimum of 28 days before or after a major surgical procedure to administer bevacizumab to lower the risk of adverse events such as wound hemorrhage and breakdown. Bevacizumab was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for recurrent glioblastoma in May 2009. Below we will chronicle some of the studies that led to that approval.

In an early phase II trial, 9 patients with malignant glioma and 23 with glioblastoma were treated with a combination of bevacizumab and irinotecan (Table 1).³⁶ Specifically, these patients were treated with bevacizumab 10 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks and irinotecan 125 mg/m² for patients on enzyme-inducing antiepileptic medication (EIAED) or 340 mg/m² for patients not on EIAED. Twenty patients (63%) achieved a radiographic response to treatment. Of the 23 glioblastomas, 14 patients (61%) achieved a partial response or better, with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 20%. Three patients developed deep venous thromboses or pulmonary emboli, and 1 patient had a stroke. There were no cases of intracranial hemorrhages.³⁶

Table 1 Compilation of phase II studies using bevacizumab for recurrent glioblastoma

Patients	Treatment	Radiographic response (MR, PR, CR)	PFS at 6 months	Overall survival
23	BEV + irinotecan^Citation36	61%	30%	Median 9 mos
33	BEV + CT^Citation37	64%	42%	N/A
48	BEV^Citation38	71%	29%	Median 7 mos
85	BEV^Citation41	28%	43%	Median 9 mos
82	BEV + irinotecan^Citation41	38%	50%	Median 9 mos

Abbreviations: PFS, progression-free survival; MR, minor response; PR, partial response; CR, complete response; BEV, bevacizumab; CT, variable cytotoxic chemotherapy.

In another retrospective analysis of bevacizumab combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy (irinotecan, carboplatin, carboplatin with erlotinib, carmustine or temozolomide) for recurrent malignant gliomas, a total of 55 patients were reviewed and 63% showed a response to treatment and 30% had stable disease (Table 1).³⁷ The results of this trial included a 6-month PFS of 42% for glioblastoma and 32% for anaplastic glioma. Twenty-three patients, at progression, continued bevacizumab but changed chemotherapeutic agents, and this resulted in no radiographic responses, but 2 patients had prolonged PFS. The authors also noted a pattern of increased volume of infiltrative, nonenhancing tumor in those patients who progressed while on bevacizumab. The conclusion reached was that, while bevacizumab combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy is active in patients with malignant gliomas, changing chemotherapeutic agents at progression proved beneficial in only a small subset of patients and progression of tumor seemed to occur in a non-enhancing, infiltrative pattern.³⁷

In another phase II trial of patients with recurrent glioblastoma, 48 patients with recurrent glioblastoma were treated with bevacizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks until tumor progression, then irinotecan was added to bevacizumab, either 340 mg/m² or 125 mg/m², depending on EIAED status (Table 1).³⁸ While on bevacizumab alone, 34 patients (71%) achieved a radiographic response based on Levin criteria,³⁹ compared to 17 patients (35%) when using Macdonald criteria.⁴⁰ The 6-month PFS was 29%, and 6-month overall survival (OS) was 57%. 19 patients were treated with bevacizumab and irinotecan at progression, and no radiographic responses were observed.

In a larger multi-institutional phase II trial of bevacizumab alone or in combination with irinotecan for recurrent glioblastoma, 167 patients were randomly assigned to bevacizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks alone or with irinotecan 340 mg/m² or 125 mg/m², depending on EIAED status (Table 1).⁴¹ For those patients on bevacizumab alone, 6-month PFS was 43%, objective response rates were 28% and median OS was 9 months. For those patients on bevacizumab and irinotecan, 6-month PFS was 50%, objective response rates were 38%, and median OS was 8.7 months. The bevacizumab-alone group experienced grade 3 or higher adverse events, including hypertension (8%) and seizures (6%). The bevacizumab and irinotecan group also experienced grade 3 or higher adverse events, including seizures (14%), neutropenia (9%) and fatigue (9%). Two patients in the bevacizumab-alone group had a grade 1 intracranial hemorrhage (2%), compared to 3 patients (4%) in the bevacizumab and irinotecan-group (grade 1, 2 and 4).⁴¹

It is difficult to make a straightforward comparison of bevacizumab to cytotoxic agents used to treat GBM because of the unusual action of bevacizumab and the fact that it does not directly damage DNA of dividing tumor cells. In addition, bevacizumab reduces cerebral edema through a direct effect on brain capillary endothelial cells thus leading to a high “response rate”. On the other hand, alkylating agents only secondarily reduce peritumoral edema when they reduce tumor and neoplastic endothelial cell burden. Furthermore, for PFS, comparing bevacizumab and cytotoxic agents can also be misleading, especially since they are not mutually exclusive therapies but rather may be complementary. Lastly, much of the early single-agent cytotoxic chemotherapy literature occurred before the current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) era became widespread. Nonetheless, for interest’s sake we will cite some conclusions from the cytotoxic literature for recurrent GBM.

For this purpose, we selected BCNU,^42–44 procarbazine,^45,46 carboplatin,⁴⁷ and temozolomide⁴⁶ data that were analyzed for a prior review.⁴⁸ Since response to these therapies is under 50% the median will generally be about 8 weeks for all studies. Therefore, in order to better understand and compare alkylating agent therapy to bevacizumab, we elected to combine response and stable disease patients in order to look at duration of therapy benefit. As summarized in table 2, those studies show combined response (PR, CR) and stable disease (minor response [MR], SD) rates of 27% to 46% with median time to progression (MTP) of 22 to 30 weeks.⁴⁸ Thus, even though the metrics used in Tables 1 and 2 are different (PFS at 6 months vs. MTP) and the response criteria differ between the study groups (MR + PR + CR vs. SD + MR + PR + CR) summarized in the two tables, one can appreciate that bevacizumab therapy benefits more patients than the cytotoxic drugs, and the durability of a benefit appears to be somewhat longer. That bevacizumab can be combined with some cytotoxic drugs without increasing myelotoxicity should be viewed as encouraging.

Table 2 Compilation of selected phase II studies of cytotoxic drugs for treatment of recurrent glioblastoma

Treatment	Radiographic response (SD, MR, PR, CR)	MTPa
BCNU^Citation42^–^Citation44	29	22
Procarbazine^Citation45,Citation46	27–33	30
Carboplatin^Citation47	40	20
Temozolomide^Citation46	46	20

a MTP, median time to tumor progression for the SD and responding patients.

Clinical phase II studies and translational research

A retrospective review of 44 patients treated with bevacizumab for recurrent glioblastoma were compared to 79 patients who were not treated with bevacizumab.⁴⁹ The authors found a significant improvement in PFS and OS in the group treated with bevacizumab. In addition, patients age 55 years or older and those with a Karnofsky Performance Status of 80 or less had an improved PFS when treated with bevacizumab. VEGF expression in glioblastoma specimens collected on all patients, analyzed with DNA microarray analysis, was higher in patients at least 55 years of age. Lastly, those patients treated with bevacizumab required a lower dose of dexamethasone, and retained their level of function longer when treated with bevacizumab.⁴⁹

Sathornsumetee and colleagues conducted a phase II trial, searching for biomarkers that could predict outcome and response to treatment in patients with recurrent malignant astrocytomas.⁵⁰ Tumor tissue was collected from 27 patients with GBM and 18 with anaplastic astrocytoma at initial diagnosis. The tissue was studied using immunohistochemistry to semi-quantitate expression of VEGF, VEGF receptor 2, CD31, hypoxia-inducible carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9), and HIF-2α. A total of 58% experienced PR or more. Elevated expression of VEGF was associated with a greater likelihood of response to treatment, but not a survival benefit. Elevated CA9 expression was associated with a poor outcome, and thus hypoxia, not angiogenesis, ultimately determined survival in this patient population. Median survival for patients with elevated CA9 expression was 37 weeks, while those with low CA9 expression was 74 weeks. The best prognosis was associated with patients whose tumor tissue was negative for CA9 and HIF-2α, whereas those who expressed both CA9 and HIF-2α had the worst prognosis. There were no significant differences in survival for angiogenic markers VEGF, VEGFR-2 or CD31.⁵⁰

Lucio-Eterovic and colleagues compared U87 glioblastoma cell lines and NSC23 glioma stem cell lines with respect to the effects of bevacizumab on in vitro and in vivo invasion, and sought to identify potential mechanisms of resistance to treatment.¹⁴ These authors were able to show that both cell lines treated with bevacizumab were able to upregulate expression of molecules important for angiogenesis, such as fibroblastic growth factors, interleukins and angiogenins, thereby bypassing the antiangiogenic effect of bevacizumab. Furthermore, there were increased levels of invasion-related proteins (MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-12, SPARC and TIMPs), suggesting both cell lines treated with bevacizumab may use this as a mechanism for increasing tumor invasiveness.¹⁴

Clinical phase II studies with irradiation

A phase II pilot study of bevacizumab in combination with temozolomide and radiation therapy was reported for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.⁵¹ In this study, all patients were treated with standard external beam irradiation (60 Gy in 30 fractions, 3 to 5 weeks followed surgery), concurrent temozolomide (75 mg/m² for 42 days during radiation therapy), and bevacizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks, starting on day 1 of radiation therapy (RT). After RT was completed, adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy was continued at 150 to 200 mg/m², days 1 to 5 every 28 days, and bevacizumab was continued at 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks. Though preliminary data analysis was encouraging, the routine use of this regimen was not advocated pending completion of a larger, ongoing phase II trial.⁵¹

Gutin and colleagues studied the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab in patients with recurrent malignant gliomas who also received stereotactic radiation therapy.⁵² 25 patients with recurrent malignant glioma, who already received standard radiation therapy, were treated with bevacizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks until tumor recurrence. These patients were also treated with 30 Gy of stereotactic radiation therapy in 5 fractions after the first course of bevacizumab. Three patients discontinued bevacizumab due to grade 3 intratumoral hemorrhage, wound dehiscence, and/or bowel perforation. No radiation necrosis was seen in any patients. In patients with GBM, the response rate was 50%, with a 6-month PFS of 65%, and a median OS of 12.5 months.⁵²

Clinical trials with anticoagulation

A retrospective review evaluated the safety of using anticoagulation in glioma patients who were also treated with bevacizumab.⁵³ In this report, 21 patients were treated with anticoagulation and bevacizumab for a median of 72 days. No large lobar hemorrhages were noted, although 14% (3/21) patients had small areas of hemorrhage and only 5% (1/21) developed symptoms from the small hemorrhage. No patients sustained permanent neurological impairments. Interestingly, 7 patients were also identified who developed symptomatic hemorrhages while on bevacizumab but were not receiving anticoagulation. The authors concluded that anticoagulation is not a contraindication to starting bevacizumab.⁵³

Bevacizumab and neuroimaging

A retrospective analysis of patterns of relapse and prognosis, once tumor progression has occurred, was reported for 37 patients with recurrent GBM on bevacizumab.⁵⁴ The median OS after tumor progression on bevacizumab was 4.5 months, with a pattern of progression characterized by an increase in enhancement at the original site of tumor (46%), a new enhancing lesion distant to the original tumor location (16%), and growth of nonenhancing tumor (35%). Additional chemotherapy was given to those with tumor progression on bevacizumab, and the median PFS for these patients was 2 months, with a median OS of 5.2 months and a 6-month PFS of 0%. The authors concluded that contrast MRI is not sufficient to fully assess treatment response of bevacizumab for recurrent GBM patients, especially since nonenhancing (T2 FLAIR) growth of tumor can be associated with a worse prognosis; additional chemotherapy following failure of bevacizumab provided only transient tumor control.⁵⁴

In another retrospective analysis, 27 patients with recurrent high-grade glioma were treated with irinotecan and bevacizumab and evaluated for safety and efficacy.⁵⁵ In this report, patients were treated with bevacizumab at 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks and irinotecan every 2 weeks (125 mg/m² for those not on EIAEDs, 340 mg/m² for those on EIAEDs). Six-month PFS was 46%, and median OS 13 months. Median number of prior therapies was 2 in this patient population. Interestingly, 12 patients had radiographic evidence for intracranial hemorrhage prior to receiving bevacizumab, yet only 1 patient required discontinuation of bevacizumab due to progression of hemorrhage. It was concluded that stable intracranial hemorrhage is probably not a contraindication to treatment with bevacizumab and irinotecan.⁵⁵

Another retrospective analysis of 51 patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas treated with bevacizumab and irinotecan was reported.⁵⁶ In this series, patients were treated with bevacizumab 10 mg/kg and irinotecan (125 mg/m² for those not on EIAEDs, 340 mg/m² for those on EIAEDs) IV every 2 weeks. The 6-month PFS for anaplastic glioma was 79% and 64% for glioblastoma. Of the 38 patients who experienced progression of disease, 23 showed distant progression, and 7 showed progression only on T2 FLAIR sequences. Twelve percent discontinued bevacizumab and irinotecan due to adverse events, including one with renal failure and another with gastric perforation. No intracranial hemorrhages were reported. The authors concluded that the high rate of distant progression may indicate an ability of the tumor to adapt to bevacizumab with a mechanism of infiltration.⁵⁶

In a retrospective review of MRI from patients with GBM who reviewed bevacizumab-containing regimens, and evaluated for the time course for imaging changes, 15 patients were identified who responded to a bevacizumab regimen and were available for MRI follow up for at least 7 months. The median time to best tumor response was 158 days (range, 16 to 261), and the median best response was a 72% reduction in tumor volume and vasogenic edema.⁵⁷

Bevacizumab and radiation necrosis

Bevacizumab appears to be active not only in the treatment of patients with glioblastomas, but for those with treatment-related changes from radiation therapy. The first paper to comment on this association was published in 2007.⁵⁸ Eight patients with malignant brain tumors (4 glioblastomas, 3 anaplastic gliomas and 1 hemangiopericytoma) were classified as having radiation necrosis using MRI criteria,⁵⁹ although radiation necrosis was confirmed in 2 patients by biopsy. Following treatment with bevacizumab, alone or in combination with other chemotherapy agents, there was an average reduction of MRI enhancement of 48% and FLAIR size of 60%. Furthermore, there was a reduction in the average dexamethasone dose of 8 mg.

Another retrospective review of 6 patients (3 glioblastoma, 1 anaplastic astrocytoma, 1 anaplastic ependymoma and 1 astrocytoma), all with biopsy-proven radiation necrosis, were treated with bevacizumab. The average reduction in enhancement seen on MRI scans was 79%, and FLAIR images on MRI had an average signal reduction of 49%. The radiographic response rate reached 100%, and a response was maintained for a mean of 5.9 months (6 weeks to 18 months). The average number of bevacizumab infusions given was 6.8, and all patients were able to taper off dexamethasone.⁶⁰

One of the authors (VAL) has completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of bevacizumab in non-GBM patients with radiation necrosis.⁶¹ This study strongly confirms the retrospective studies of bevacizumab effectiveness in treating radiation necrosis of the CNS. It appears clear that bevacizumab can reduce capillary leakage, in a VEGF-dependent process, and thereby effectively manage vasogenic edema in patients with malignant brain tumors and radiation necrosis.³⁰ In addition, reduction of VEGF by bevacizumab appears to stop the progression of radiation necrosis in many cases. Cliniclas must be cognizant of the possibility that this may confound our ability to truly evaluate response when using neuroimaging criteria in patients with glioblastoma who have MRI scans that could represent tumor progression and/or radiation necrosis.

Concluding remarks

Bevacizumab has thus far been shown to be active in patients with glioblastoma, with acceptable toxicity. Most serious adverse events, defined as grade 3 or 4 based on Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v3.0, are 5% or less, with exception to hypertension (range 6% to 16%).⁶² Bevacizumab has been shown to improve survival, both PFS and OS, compared to historical controls in glioblastoma patients, with the most impressive response rates thus far for any such therapy. There are data to support activity of bevacizumab alone in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

The conundrum facing clinicians who use or would like to use bevacizumab to treat glioblastoma and anaplastic gliomas is how to best utilize its unique pharmacological actions on brain capillary permeability and its ability to interfere with tumor vessel formation. It is naïve to expect that bevacizumab combination with alkylating agents will achieve substantially more in terms of durable response since there is no unique interaction to be exploited. To date, most trials appear to be combinations of bevacizumab with DNA-damaging agents and/or irradiation. Emerging data to show benefit with bevacizumab used at diagnosis along with temozolomide have been judged encouraging based primarily on acceptable toxicity profiles when combining bevacizumab with standard conventional external beam irradiation or hypofractionated radiation therapy at recurrence. There are presently, however, a lack of randomized-controlled trials to provide definitive answers on the true impact of bevacizumab-containing regimens for patients with glioblastoma. Trials such as RTOG 0825, which is presently open and evaluating newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients treated with standard external beam irradiation plus temozolomide versus standard external beam irradiation, temozolomide and bevacizumab, will address some of these concerns, although it may also point out the propensity of bevacizumab to alter glioma tumors to a more invasive phenotype.⁵⁴

It is hoped that the continued identification of biomarkers and genetic patterns will identify patients who may benefit from anti-angiogenic agents such as bevacizumab, and these studies may also suggest other treatable cellular targets that may be critical to the advancement of treatment for glioblastoma patients. Lastly, given important issues of cost and toxicity, future randomized-controlled trials identifying optimal dose and length of treatment would be very helpful in optimizing use of bevacizumab for glioblastoma patients.

Disclosures

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.