I came across a report that claims that the anticancer drug, Avastin, can help ovarian cancer patients. The drug, which is commonly used to treat colon, breast and brain cancers, now may have an application in ovarian cancer.
Researchers added Avastin to a standard chemotherapy and maintenance regimen to a group of women with cancer of the ovaries or closely related areas. They found that the women who were given Avastin lived an average of four months longer without the disease progressing than those who did not receive it.
Avastin is not without a level of controversy in its history. Some experts objected to FDA approval of it for metastatic breast cancer because the drug only slows tumor growth, but fails to extend survival. The FDA approved it for use anyway, even though a panel of outside advisers voted 5 to 4 against approval. Although Avastin reduces tumor size and shows an increase in progression-free survival time, it does not prolong or increase the quality of life for late-stage cancer patients. continue reading…