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Antiangiogenic and antitumor effects of bevacizumab in patients with inflammatory and locally advanced breast cancer.

Wedam SB, Low JA, Yang SX, Chow CK, Choyke P, Danforth D, Hewitt SM, Berman A, Steinberg SM, Liewehr DJ, Plehn J, Doshi A, Thomasson D, McCarthy N, Koeppen H, Sherman M, Zujewski J, Camphausen K, Chen H, Swain SM

Cancer Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Building 8, Rm 5101, Bethesda, MD 20889-5015, USA.

PURPOSE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent molecule that mediates tumor angiogenesis primarily through VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2). Bevacizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody to VEGF, was administered to previously untreated patients to evaluate parameters of angiogenesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with inflammatory and locally advanced breast cancer were treated with bevacizumab for cycle 1 (15 mg/kg on day 1) followed by six cycles of bevacizumab with doxorubicin (50 mg/m(2)) and docetaxel (75 mg/m(2)) every 3 weeks. After locoregional therapy, patients received eight cycles of bevacizumab alone, and hormonal therapy when indicated. Tumor biopsies and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) were obtained at baseline, and after cycles 1, 4, and 7. RESULTS: A median decrease of 66.7% in phosphorylated VEGFR2 (Y951) in tumor cells (P = .004) and median increase of 128.9% in tumor apoptosis (P = .0008) were seen after bevacizumab alone. These changes persisted with the addition of chemotherapy. There were no significant changes in microvessel density or VEGF-A expression. On DCE-MRI, parameters reflecting reduced angiogenesis, a median decrease of 34.4% in the inflow transfer rate constant (P = .003), 15.0% in the backflow extravascular- extracellular rate constant (P = .0007) and 14.3% in extravascular-extracellular volume fraction (P = .002) were seen after bevacizumab alone. CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab has inhibitory effects on VEGF receptor activation and vascular permeability, and induces apoptosis in tumor cells.

Published 10 February 2006 in J Clin Oncol, 24(5): 769-77.
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