Glioblastoma is the most common type of brain cancer in the United States. In more than 90 percent of cases, the cancer returns after initial treatment, and patients typically survive between three and six months after that time. Glioblastoma affects about 10,000 people per year in the United States

 

Avastin is based on anti-angiogenesis mechanism, designed to combat cancer by preventing the formation of blood vessels that supply tumours. The drug simply interferes with the blood supply of a tumour, cutting its ability to grow and spread in the body.

 

“We look forward to working with the FDA to potentially provide people with this devastating disease the first new treatment in more than a decade. A global Phase III trial evaluating Avastin in people with newly diagnosed glioblastoma will be initiated later this year,” said David Schenkein, M.D., senior vice president, Clinical Hematology and Oncology, Genentech.

 

Treatment with Avastin however can lead to GI perforation, which is the development of a hole in the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine. Clinical trials showed that these events occurred throughout the course of treatment, and in some cases resulted in fatality. Avastin therapy should be permanently stopped in people with GI perforation.