Results of a recently-conducted randomised controlled phase 2 trial published in The Lancet Oncology, found no evidence of improved overall survival with bevacizumab (also known as Avastin) and temozolomide combination treatment versus temozolomide therapy only.
The drug bevacizumab is frequently used in the treatment of recurrent grade II and III glioma (without 1p/19q co-deletion*), but evidence from randomised trials does not support its efficiency.
Because of the findings there is no support for further phase 3 trial on the role of bevacizumab in these brain tumours.
*The word “deletion” refers to the fact that when you look at one of the chromosomes, the genes at positions 1p and 19q are missing. Tumours with a 1p/19q deletion may respond better to certain chemotherapy drugs such as Temozolomide or Carmustine, than other tumours without the deletion.