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November 18, 2007

Genentech's Avastin Shows Promise In Brain Cancer

Topics: Medicine

A drug used for lung and colorectal cancer and originally excluded from use in brain cancers is offering hope for cancer patients with gliomas - a type of brain cancer that is ussually incurable in all cases. The drug could possibly extend life and help preserve physical and mental function for a longer period of time than has previously been possible.

Genentech's new cancer drug, Avastin (known chemically as bevacizumab), has showed encouraging results for patients with Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer. In a Phase II trial, Avistan, administered alone or with chemotherapy, demonstrated a six-month survival rate (without the disease advancing) of 36 percent in patients treated with Avastin alone and 51 percent in patients treated with a combination of Avastin and chemotherapy.

According to the lead investigator for the study, historical estimates suggest that only 15 percent of patients with this aggressive type of brain cancer live without their cancer progressing within six months. Citing American Cancer Society data, Genentech says that the five-year survival rate for patients with GBM is 3 percent.

Continue reading: Genentech: Avastin shows promise for brain cancer

Cross posted from New Hope Blog

Posted by Richard at November 18, 2007 5:15 PM

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