Brand name: Avastin
Chemical name: Bevacizumab
Class: Antiangiogenesis targeted therapy. There are no other antiangiogenesis medicines used to treat breast cancer.
How it works: Antiangiogenesis medicines block the growth of new blood vessels into a tumor, choking off the blood supply to cancer cells.
Uses: Avastin is used in combination with Taxol to treat metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer that hasn't been treated with chemotherapy.
How it's given: Avastin is given intravenously.
Side effects:
- nosebleeds
- high blood pressure
- proteinuria (too much protein in the urine, a possible sign of kidney malfunction)
- fatigue
- low white blood cell count
- diarrhea
Read more about Avastin.
Recent Research News articles on Avastin:
SABCS: Benefits of Bevacizumab Modest in Metastatic Disease
Bevacizumab Increases VTE Risk
Avastin slows progress of breast cancer in trial
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