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Incidence and Management of Gastrointestinal Perforation from Bevacizumab in Advanced Cancers

  • Palliative Medicine (A Jatoi, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Bevacizumab (Avastin™, Genentech) is a monoclonal antibody that deactivates the vascular endothelial growth factor leading to disruption of vital cancer signaling pathways and inhibition of angiogenesis which results in its anti-tumor activity. The use of bevacizumab in treating cancers has steadily increased since it was initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration for metastatic colorectal cancer. Clinical trials have revealed that bevacizumab has serious side effects, including spontaneous bowel perforation, which can occur in patients who have no involvement of the gastrointestinal tract by cancer. Although risk factors for bevacizumab-associated bowel perforation have been identified, it is still unclear which patients are specifically at risk for this complication. The management of bevacizumab-induced bowel perforation depends on the clinical presentation and the goals of care set by the treating physicians and the patient.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Dr., C32 GH, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1081, USA

    Taher Abu-Hejleh & Thorvardur R. Halfdanarson

  2. Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA

    James J. Mezhir

  3. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Michael J. Goodheart

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  1. Taher Abu-Hejleh
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  2. James J. Mezhir
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  4. Thorvardur R. Halfdanarson
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Correspondence to Taher Abu-Hejleh.

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Abu-Hejleh, T., Mezhir, J.J., Goodheart, M.J. et al. Incidence and Management of Gastrointestinal Perforation from Bevacizumab in Advanced Cancers. Curr Oncol Rep 14, 277–284 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-012-0238-8

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