Bevacizumab in high-grade gliomas: past, present, and future

The survival of patients with high-grade gliomas (anaplastic gliomas and glioblastoma) remains poor despite current treatment modalities. However, an enhanced understanding of gliomagenesis is supporting the development of targeted molecular therapies with the potential for improving clinical outcomes. Glioblastoma (GBM) is characterized by extensive microvascular proliferation and the production of large amounts of VEGF. Bevacizumab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that selectively binds with high affinity to human VEGF and neutralizes VEGF’s biologic activity. Preclinical data indicate that angiogenesis is essential for the proliferation and survival of GBM cells. A number of studies have evaluated the outcomes of both newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM patients with bevacizumab in a prospective manner. Here, we discuss the role of bevacizumab in the treatment of anaplastic gliomas and GBM in the recurrent and upfront setting.