Current use and potential role of bevacizumab in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers

Angiogenesis is essential for cancer growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key modulator of angiogenesis. In addition, overexpression of VEGF is correlated with advanced disease and poor prognosis. Bevacizumab, a recombinant humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, is the first anti-angiogenic agent approved by Food and Drug Administration for use in treatment of human solid cancers. Although bevacizumab has received most attention for first-line treatment of advanced colorectal and nonsmall-cell lung cancer, there is a rapidly growing body of evidence for its efficacy in treat-ment of a number of other solid tumors. We present the current status and potential use of bevacizumab therapy in gastrointestinal cancers.