Lung and Colorectal Cancers Drug Avastin: Found to Extend Survival in Patients with Deadly Gliomas

A relatively new cancer drug – Avastin (bevacizumab) – currently used in treatment of lung and colorectal cancers, has recently been found to slow the growth of the most common and deadly form of brain cancer -gliomas.

Such is the finding of a Duke University Medical Center pilot study in which the researchers tested the effectiveness of Avastin in conjunction with a standard chemotherapy agent in patients with recurrent cancerous brain tumors called gliomas.

…found that the two drugs together halted tumor growth up to twice as long as comparative therapies.

Though gliomas remain incurable in nearly all cases, the combined drug therapy may buy precious time and preserve physical and mental function longer for patients facing this grim diagnosis.

Avastin, a product of Genentech, is new type of drug that shrinks cancerous tumors by cutting off their blood supply.

Find more details from the full report.