Avastin (Bevacizumab)

Avastin is among newest additions to the armamentarium of fight against cancer.  This drug has been approved for treatment of patients with Colon and Rectal Cancer as well as patients with adenocarcinomas of lung.  Avastin is used in combination with  5-FU or Xeloda, Oxaliplatin, Irinotecan for treatment of patients with cancers of colon or rectum.  This drug does not seem to have anti-cancer effect alone and has to be combined with other medications.  It is also being studied in combination with other chemotherapy drugs for treatment of other cancers.  Recent studies have shown some efficacy in breast cancer.

Side effects:

Following are some of the most common and important ill effects:

• Bleeding.  This can be a serious problem in certain patients with lung cancer.

• Gastrointestinal Perforations/Wound Healing Complications, Avastin should not be initiated for at least 28 days following major surgery. The surgical incision should be fully healed prior to initiation of this drug. Due to the potential for impaired wound healing, this drug should be suspended prior to any elective surgery.

• Blood clot formation in arteries

• damage to the kidneys, loss of protein in urine

• Damage to the heart, congestive Heart Failure

• High or low blood pressure

• Sore mouth

• Taste change

The occurrence of allergic reactions, skin reaction and fluid retention may be reduced by treatment of patients with steroids. It is imperative that patients relay any side effects or problems to their medical oncologists.