Related pages Drug Information Summaries 1 Approval Process for New Cancer Treatments 2 Access to Investigational Drugs 3

This page contains brief information about bevacizumab and a collection of links to more information about the use of this drug, related news and research results, and ongoing clinical trials.

US Brand Name(s):		Avastin
FDA Approved:		Yes

Bevacizumab is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used alone to treat glioblastoma in patients whose disease has not gotten better with other types of treatment.

Bevacizumab is also approved to be used with other drugs to treat the following types of cancer:

• Breast cancer that is HER2 negative and has metastasized (spread to other parts of the body) in patients who have not already been treated with chemotherapy.
• Colorectal cancer that has metastasized.
• Non-small cell lung cancer that is locally advanced, cannot be removed by surgery, has metastasized, or has recurred (come back).
• Renal cell cancer that has metastasized.

In addition to the uses that have been approved by the FDA, bevacizumab is sometimes used to treat other types of cancer. Bevacizumab is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

FDA Approval for Bevacizumab ⁴ - Information from the FDA about the approval of this drug and the clinical trials that led to the approval.

Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary ⁵ - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.

Clinical Trial Results: Combining Targeted Drugs Is Worse in Colorectal Cancer (02/24/2009) ⁶ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Bevacizumab Benefits Some Patients With Advanced Kidney Cancer (06/20/2007) ⁷ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Adding Bevacizumab Improves Outcomes in Advanced Colorectal Cancer (05/14/2005) ⁸ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Bevacizumab Combined With Chemotherapy Improves Progression-Free Survival for Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer (04/14/2005) ⁹ - Information from the NCI Press Office about this drug.

Bevacizumab Combined With Chemotherapy Prolongs Survival for Some Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer (03/14/2005) ¹⁰ - Information from the NCI Press Office about this drug.

Bevacizumab Combined With Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy Prolongs Survival for Previously Treated Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer (11/29/2004) ¹¹ - Information from the NCI Press Office about this drug.

Bevacizumab for Treatment of Solid Tumors: Questions and Answers (08/03/2005) ¹² - Information about the use of this drug to treat cancer.

Bevacizumab May Increase Blood Clot Risk (11/18/2008) ¹³ - Information about the use of this drug to treat cancer.

MedlinePlus Information on Bevacizumab ¹⁴ - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:

• warnings about this drug,
• what this drug is used for and how it is used,
• what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
• what you should know about this drug before using it,
• other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
• possible side effects.

Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This NLM patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.

Clinical Trials for Bevacizumab ¹⁵ - Check for trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry now accepting patients.

Glossary Terms

Cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

Cancer that develops in the colon (the longest part of the large intestine) and/or the rectum (the last several inches of the large intestine before the anus).

An agency in the U.S. federal government whose mission is to protect public health by making sure that food, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements are safe to use and truthfully labeled. The Food and Drug Administration also makes sure that drugs, medical devices, and equipment are safe and effective, and that blood for transfusions and transplant tissue are safe. Also called FDA.

A fast-growing type of central nervous system tumor that forms from glial (supportive) tissue of the brain and spinal cord and has cells that look very different from normal cells. Glioblastoma usually occurs in adults and affects the brain more often than the spinal cord. Also called GBM, glioblastoma multiforme, and grade IV astrocytoma.

A protein involved in normal cell growth. It is found on some types of cancer cells, including breast and ovarian. Cancer cells removed from the body may be tested for the presence of HER2/neu to help decide the best type of treatment. HER2/neu is a type of receptor tyrosine kinase. Also called c-erbB-2, human EGF receptor 2, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2.

Cancer that has spread from where it started to nearby tissue or lymph nodes.

To spread from one part of the body to another. When cancer cells metastasize and form secondary tumors, the cells in the metastatic tumor are like those in the original (primary) tumor.

A test result that does not show the specific disease, condition, or biomarker for which the test is being done.

A group of lung cancers that are named for the kinds of cells found in the cancer and how the cells look under a microscope. The three main types of non-small cell lung cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common kind of lung cancer.

Cancer that has recurred (come back), usually after a period of time during which the cancer could not be detected. The cancer may come back to the same place as the original (primary) tumor or to another place in the body. Also called recurrence.

The most common type of kidney cancer. It begins in the lining of the renal tubules in the kidney. The renal tubules filter the blood and produce urine. Also called hypernephroma.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.