Low-dose bevacizumab as an effective pre-treatment for peri-tumoral brain edema prior to CyberKnife radiosurgery: A case report

Cancer Biol Ther. 2018 Jun 3;19(6):461-464. doi: 10.1080/15384047.2018.1433499. Epub 2018 Mar 21.

Abstract

A 75-y-old Chinese female patient diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma with brain metastasis suffered severe nausea and vomiting, and these symptoms were contraindications for CyberKnife treatment. Neither mannitol, nor dexamethasone, relieved the symptoms. However, after the patient received a single dose of bevacizumab (200 mg, 2.9 mg/kg), the patient's symptoms were significantly relieved. The patient subsequently completed a successful CyberKnife treatment. In addition, the patient received an oral treatment of gefitinib. At 15 months post treatment, the patient's brain tumor was controlled. Thus, administration of bevacizumab at a low dose (2.9 mg/kg) may significantly alleviate peri-tumoral brain edema and its symptoms, thereby facilitating radiosurgery treatment.

Keywords: Brain metastasis; bevacizumab; peri-tumoral brain edema; radiosurgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use*
  • Bevacizumab / pharmacology
  • Bevacizumab / therapeutic use*
  • Brain / surgery*
  • Brain Edema / drug therapy*
  • Brain Edema / pathology
  • Brain Edema / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Bevacizumab

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (No. Z171100001017190).