Incidence and management of gastrointestinal perforation from bevacizumab in advanced cancers

Taher Abu-Hejleh, James J. Mezhir, Michael J. Goodheart, Thorvardur R. Halfdanarson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bevacizumab (Avastin™, Genentech) is a monoclonal antibody that deactivates the vascular endothelial growth factor leading to disruption of vital cancer signaling pathways and inhibition of angiogenesis which results in its anti-tumor activity. The use of bevacizumab in treating cancers has steadily increased since it was initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration for metastatic colorectal cancer. Clinical trials have revealed that bevacizumab has serious side effects, including spontaneous bowel perforation, which can occur in patients who have no involvement of the gastrointestinal tract by cancer. Although risk factors for bevacizumab-associated bowel perforation have been identified, it is still unclear which patients are specifically at risk for this complication. The management of bevacizumab-induced bowel perforation depends on the clinical presentation and the goals of care set by the treating physicians and the patient.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)277-284
Number of pages8
JournalCurrent oncology reports
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2012

Keywords

  • Avastin
  • Bevacizumab
  • Bowel perforation
  • Breast cancer
  • Cancer
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Glioma
  • Metastasis
  • Non-small cell lung cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Renal cell carcinoma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology

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