Intraperitoneal bevacizumab for control of malignant ascites due to advanced-stage gastrointestinal cancers: A multicentre double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II study – AIO SUP-0108

Abstract

Purpose: Malignant ascites is debilitating for patients with advanced cancer. As shown previously, tumour cell production of vascular endothelial growth factor might be a major cause of the formation of malignant ascites. Intraperitoneal bevacizumab could therefore be an option for symptom control in refractory ascites. Patients and methods: Patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer and malignant ascites who had undergone paracentesis at least twice within the past 4 weeks were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to intraperitoneal bevacizumab (400 mg absolute) or placebo after paracentesis. During the 8-week treatment period, a minimum interval of 14 d was kept between the applications of the study drug. Primary end-point was paracentesis-free survival (ParFS). Results: Fifty-three patients (median age 63 years) were randomised. Forty-nine patients received at least one study drug application and qualified for the main analysis. The

The Effect of Single-Dose Intraperitoneal Bevacizumab on Peritoneal Adhesion Formation

“…Different studies have also shown that bevacizumab was effective in preventing intraperitoneal adhesion formation, both macroscopically and microscopically 16,28 . Recently, intraperitoneal bevacizumab was reported to be well tolerated but not effective in symptom control of gastrointestinal malignancyrelated ascites 29 . They reported that intraperitoneal bevacizumab is safe.…”

Nonmyelomatous Ascites Resulting from the Increased Secretion of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Multiple Myeloma

“…In solid tumors, malignant pleural effusion is known to result from the elevation of the serum level of VEGF, and the inhibition of VEGF by its antibody, bevacizumab, which prevents the accumulation of VEGF ( 11 , 12 ).…”

A pilot study of intraperitoneal bevacizumab for the palliation of malignant ascites

“…Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits the biological activity of VEGF. A number of small studies have reported on the safety and efficacy of intraperitoneal (IP) administration of bevacizumab (BVZ) for the treatment of malignant ascites to date with mixed results …”