Although this is an orthodox chemotherapy treatment, it is substantial news, and I decided to speak about it nevertheless because of the high scrutiny under which Avastin (bevacizumab) has been subjected. This substance already has approval for a variety of cancers, such as colon, brain, kidney, and lung cancers.
Bevacizumab (Avastin) works by blocking angiogenesis (i.e., the growth of new blood vessels that enable tumors to grow). It is a humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). It was the first angiogenesis inhibitor available in the United States for clinical applications. It received its first approval for cancer treatment in 2004 when used in combination with standard chemotherapy for metastatic colon cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. continue reading…