There is a great deal of evidence indicating that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is important for the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. VEGF plays an important role in angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and tumor growth, which are all factors that contribute to its attractiveness as a therapeutic target for anti-cancer therapies.
In 2004, bevacizumab (Avastin) gained FDA approval for specific types of cancer, and became the first antiangiogenic agent introduced to the market. It is a humanized monoclonal IgG antibody, and inhibits angiogenesis by binding and neutralizing VEGF-A. Bevacizumab is generally indicated for use in combination with different chemotherapy regimens which are specific to the type, severity, and stage of cancer. Bevacizumab was approved by Health Canada on March 24, 2010 and by the European Commission on April 21, 2021. There are also biosimilars of bevacizumab available, such as bevacizumab-awwb, bevacizumab-maly, and bevacizumab-adcd.
Interestingly, researchers have identified higher VEGF expression in patients with COVID-19, which may contribute to lung pathologies including acute respiratory syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI). As such, bevacizumab is being investigated for the treatment of lung complications associated with severe cases of COVID-19.
As a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, bevacizumab is used in several chemotherapy regimens to treat metastatic colorectal cancer; metastatic, unresectable, locally advanced or recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer; metastatic renal cell carcinoma; metastatic, persistent, or recurrent cervical cancer; primary peritoneal cancer; epithelial ovarian cancer; fallopian tube cancer; breast cancer; and recurrent glioblastoma.
Interestingly, bevacizumab is currently under investigation for the treatment of COVID-19 complications including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI).
Research Site, Manchester, United Kingdom
Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
Cancer Center Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
GSK Investigational Site, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Johns Hopkins Medicine SKCCC, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States
University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, United States
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, United States
M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States
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