Targeting angiogenesis in pancreatic cancer.

摘要

Prognosis for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer remains poor with a median survival of 6 months. The minimal effect of conventional cytotoxic therapy, including gemcitabine, on survival makes the development of new targeted therapies a priority. Tumour angiogenesis, in particular the well-studied signalling system mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is a rational target in pancreatic cancer.1 The / addition of bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against VEGFA, to conventional cytotoxic treatment is beneficial in several non-haematological cancers (eg, colorectal and lung cancers).2-3 However, a recent phase III trial (CALGB 80303) in paiients.with advanced pancreatic cancerfound no benefit for bevacizumab added to gemcitabine.4 The trial followed a single-arm phase II study of bevacizumab and gemcitabine that showed median survival of more than 8 months.