Bevacizumab: A dose review

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2015 Jun;94(3):311-22. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.012. Epub 2015 Feb 7.

Abstract

Angiogenesis is a key process in cancer development and has been described has a hallmark of cancer. Two dose-intensities were approved for cancer treatment by the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency: 2.5mg/kg/week dose equivalent and 5mg/kg/week dose equivalent. While bevacizumab has shown its effectiveness in clinical trials, pharmacodynamics is not fully understood and a dose-effect relationship has not been proven in vivo. Direct trials comparing high or low doses are rare with potential dose-effect toxicity. Discordant data have been reported on the efficacy of doses. This review discusses the dose of bevacizumab via the analysis of studies that led to the approval of bevacizumab in clinical practice. Optimization of doses schemes could reduce potential dose-effect toxicities, potentiate synergetic effects with chemotherapy and permit the prescription to a larger population with a better cost-effectiveness ratio.

Keywords: Bevacizumab; Clinical outcomes; Dose; In vitro; In vivo.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Bevacizumab
  • Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic
  • Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / mortality
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Bevacizumab