Promising effect of chemotherapy with bevacizumab for patients with pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma: Two case reports and a literature review

Respir Investig. 2015 Nov;53(6):296-9. doi: 10.1016/j.resinv.2015.05.004. Epub 2015 Aug 12.

Abstract

Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma (PPC) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. Chemotherapy regimens used to date have not been effective against PPC; thus, a new treatment strategy is needed. Here, we report two patients with PPC who were effectively treated with a chemotherapy regimen including bevacizumab. Both patients received carboplatin/paclitaxel/bevacizumab and showed a partial response. As patients with PPC have been reported to show high expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the tumor specimens from the presented patients also showed high expression of VEGF. Therefore, a chemotherapy regimen including a VEGF inhibitor such as bevacizumab is a promising treatment for patients with PPC.

Keywords: bevacizumab,; chemotherapy,; pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma,; vascular endothelial growth factor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bevacizumab / administration & dosage
  • Carboplatin / administration & dosage
  • Carcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Bevacizumab
  • Carboplatin
  • Paclitaxel