Elsevier

Annals of Oncology

Volume 24, Issue 1, January 2013, Pages 257-263
Annals of Oncology

original articles
sarcomas
An open-label, multicenter, phase II study of bevacizumab for the treatment of angiosarcoma and epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas

https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mds237Get rights and content
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ABSTRACT

Background

To determine efficacy and safety of bevacizumab, a recombinant humanized antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in the treatment of metastatic or locally advanced angiosarcoma and epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas.

Patients and methods

In this single-arm phase II trial, 32 patients were enrolled and they received bevacizumab 15 mg/kg IV infusion in 21-day cycles. Patients had disease that was deemed not surgically resectable, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of ≤1, adequate organ function and had not received any radiation treatment in the last 28 days.

Results

Of the 30 patients evaluated for efficacy and toxic effect, four (two angiosarcoma and two epithelioid hemangioendothelioma; 17%) had a partial response. Fifteen patients (11 angiosarcoma and 4 epithelioid hemangioendothelioma; 50%) showed stable disease with a mean time to progression of 26 weeks. Bevacizumab was well tolerated with only one grade 4 adverse event. Expected known toxic effects of the drug were manageable.

Conclusion

Bevacizumab is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for metastatic or locally advanced angiosarcoma and epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas. Further phase III studies of bevacizumab in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents and/or radiation treatment are warranted.

Keywords

angiosarcoma
bevacizumab
hemangioendotheliomas
soft tissue sarcoma

Cited by (0)

Presented, in part, at the 45th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 29 May–2 June 2009, Orlando, Florida, and the Connective Tissue Oncology Society 15th Annual Meeting, 5–7 November 2009, Miami, Florida.