(beh-vuh-SIH-zoo-mab)
Bevacizumab works by blocking a protein called VEGF, which some cancer cells produce in large amounts. Blocking VEGF may prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. Bevacizumab is a type of targeted therapy called an angiogenesis inhibitor.
Avastin
Mvasi
Zirabev
FDA label information for this drug is available at DailyMed.
Use in Cancer
Bevacizumab is approved to be used alone or with other drugs to treat:
- Cervical cancer that has not gotten better with other treatment, has spread to other parts of the body, or has come back. It is used with paclitaxel and either cisplatin or topotecan hydrochloride. This use is approved for the Alymsys, Avastin, Mvasi, and Zirabev brands of bevacizumab.
- Colorectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It is used:
- With fluorouracil as the first or second treatment.
- With a fluoropyrimidine and either irinotecan hydrochloride or oxaliplatin as the second treatment in patients whose disease has gotten worse after therapy that included bevacizumab.
This use is approved for the Alymsys, Avastin, Mvasi, and Zirabev brands of bevacizumab.
- Glioblastoma (a type of brain cancer) that has come back. It is used in adults. This use is approved for the Alymsys, Avastin, Mvasi, and Zirabev brands of bevacizumab.
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer) that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery. It is used with atezolizumab in patients who have not received systemic therapy. This use is approved for the Avastin brand of bevacizumab.
- Nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer that is has spread, cannot be removed by surgery, or has come back. It is used with carboplatin and paclitaxel as the first therapy. This use is approved for the Alymsys, Avastin, Mvasi, and Zirabev brands of bevacizumab.
- Ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. It is used:
- With carboplatin and paclitaxel and then alone in patients with stage III, stage IV, or recurrent cancer. It is given after surgery. This use is approved for the Avastin, Mvasi, and Zirabev brands of bevacizumab.
- With paclitaxel, doxorubicin hydrochloride liposome, or topotecan hydrochloride in patients whose cancer has come back, does not respond to platinum chemotherapy, and has been treated with up to two types of chemotherapy. This use is approved for the Alymsys, Avastin, Mvasi, and Zirabev brands of bevacizumab.
- With carboplatin and paclitaxel or carboplatin and gemcitabine hydrochloride and then alone in patients whose cancer responds to platinum chemotherapy and has come back. This use is approved for the Avastin, Mvasi, and Zirabev brands of bevacizumab.
- Renal cell carcinoma (a type of kidney cancer) that has spread to other parts of the body. It is used with interferon alpha. This use is approved for the Alymsys, Avastin, Mvasi, and Zirabev brands of bevacizumab.
Bevacizumab is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.
More About Bevacizumab
Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary – Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.
More About Bevacizumab – A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:
- warnings about this drug,
- what this drug is used for and how it is used,
- what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
- what you should know about this drug before using it,
- other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
- possible side effects.
Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.
Research Results and Related Resources
Drug Regimen Boosts Survival of People with Advanced Colorectal Cancer
Clinical Trials Accepting Patients
Find Clinical Trials for Bevacizumab – Check for trials from NCI’s list of cancer clinical trials now accepting patients.
