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Generic Name: Bevacizumab
Brand Name(s): Avastin®
IUPAC: Humanized anti-VEGF antibody
FDA Approval: yes
Manufacturer Link
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Usage: Bevacizumab is used as in combination with
chemotherapy for the treatment of
metastatic colorectal cancer. Bevacisumab was additionally approved in 2006 in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel for the treatment of non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer that is unresectable, advanced, recurrent or metastatic.
(1) Bevacizumabe was also used to treat metastatic breast cancer but that was stopped in December 2010.
(2) Bevacizumab is administered as an infusion once every 14 days.
(3)
Mechanism: Bevacizumab (Avastin®) is a
monoclonal antibody treatment that binds to
VEGF (vascular endothelial
growth factor) and prevents it from binding to its receptors on endothelial cells. This interrupts the signal for necessary blood vessel growth in a tumor. Note that the image shown is a general structure of an antibody. There are four proteins bound together in a 'Y' shape. The two top tips of the Y are where the antibody binds with its target. This means that each antibody molecule can bind to two identical target regions.
Side Effects: Side effects include: weakness, diarrhea, low white blood cell count, abdominal pain, headache, hypertension. There may be other or more severe side effects when given with chemotherapy. In some cases this drug was associated with more serious side effects. These included gastrointestinal abscesses and perforations, and bleeding. Signs of these more serious conditions may include severe abdominal pain associated with constipation or diarrhea. Treatment with this drug may also delay wound healing, which includes delayed healing of wounds from surgical procedures.
(3)
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