Bevacizumab and Irinotecan for Patients With Primary Brain Tumors and Progression After Standard Therapy
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Irinotecan has demonstrated activity in malignant gliomas in multiple phase II studies. The
activity is limited, with an approximately 15 % response rate and a progression-free survival
of 3-5 months. Given the synergy between irinotecan and bevacizumab in colorectal cancer, and
the high-level expression of vascular endothelial growth factor on malignant gliomas, one
would expect synergy between bevacizumab and irinotecan against gliomas.
Recent data form a small study of 32 patients from Duke University have achieved a response
rate of 62% in patients with malignant gliomas. Most included patients had glioblastomas, but
this regimen may also have activity in more rare primary malignant brain tumors. The
investigators therefore plan to include other primary malignant brain tumors in this study,
and the clinical activity will be correlated with biomarkers and PET results of metabolic
activity and blood flow. This may result in information that can be used to individualize
therapy in the future.