Bevacizumab in clinical practice.

ABSTRACT

The development of targeted therapies and especially angiogenesis inhibitor drugs is undoubtedly a major advancement in the treatment of cancer in the 21st century. Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody directed against vascular endothelial growth factor that was approved for the treatment of multiple solid tumors, we have reviewed the side effects cited in clinical trials of bevacizumab and the guidelines for their management and we can conclude that bevacizumab, is generally well tolerated but is associated with increase in some adverse side effects for which monitoring is required particularly vascular and renal side effects including hypertension, proteinuria, thromboembolic events and hemorrhage. The better understanding of bevacizumab toxicity profile and the guidelines for their optimal management as well as the education of patients may allow prolonged therapy and thus improved clinical outcomes.