Different Timing to Use Bevacizumab in Patients with Recurrent Glioblastoma: Early Versus Delayed Administration

Abstract

Background/aim: In patients with recurrent glioblastoma, the best timing to administer bevacizumab is not well addressed yet. In this study, we reported the results of a monocentric experience comparing the early use of bevacizumab (following the first GBM recurrence) with the delayed administration (following the second or even further GBM recurrences).

Materials and methods: This analysis included 129 glioblastoma patients with a median follow-up of 22.4 months (range=5.26-192 months).

Results: The median time lapse from diagnosis of glioblastoma to disease recurrence was 11.6 months; 13.1 for patients treated with deferred administration of bevacizumab and 9.9 for patients with early administration (p=0.047). Bevacizumab progression-free survival with early and delayed use was 3.45 and 2.92 months, respectively (p=0.504). Survival time from the start of bevacizumab was 6.18 months in patients with early administration, and 6.47 in the delayed administration one (p=0.318).

Conclusion: Delayed administration of bevacizumab can be considered in selected patients with less aggressive recurrent glioblastoma.

Keywords: Recurrent glioblastoma; bevacizumab; delayed administration; early administration.