Bevacizumab
Trade Name:
Avastin
Type of Drug:
Bevacizumab is an antiangiogenesis drug, used in molecular targeted therapy to stop tumors from making new blood vessels.
How Drug Works:
Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that fits like a lock and key into a receptor on the cell surface. It stops vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from starting the growth of new blood vessels. Without new blood vessels, the tumor cannot grow. Bevacizumab is being studied for the treatment of many different cancers.
How Drug Is Given:
Bevacizumab is given by a shot in the vein. The dose, how long the infusion is, and how many treatments you get depends on the clinical trial treatment plan. Often the dose depends upon your size. Other drugs may be given first to help you tolerate the drug better.
Read the following information. If you do not understand it or if any of it causes you special concern, check with your doctor.

Before taking this drug, tell your doctor:

  • If you are trying to become pregnant, are pregnant, or breastfeeding. This drug may cause birth defects if either the male or female is taking it at the time of conception or during pregnancy. Men and women who are taking this drug need to use some kind of birth control. However, do not use oral contraceptives (“the pill”) without checking with your doctor.

  • If you think you may want to have children in the future. Many chemotherapy drugs can cause sterility.

  • If you have any of the following medical problems: chickenpox or exposure to chickenpox, gout, heart disease, congestive heart failure, shingles, kidney stones, liver disease, or other forms of cancer.

  • If you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs, including vitamins and herbals.
Should I avoid any other medicines, foods, alcohol, and/or activities?
Your prescription and nonprescription medicines may interact with other drugs, causing harm. Certain foods or alcohol can also interact with drug products. Never begin taking a new medicine—prescription or nonprescription—without asking your doctor or nurse if it will interact with alcohol, food, or other medicines. Some drug products can cause drowsiness and affect activities such as driving.
Precautions:
While you are being treated with bevacizumab and after you stop treatment, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor’s okay. Try to avoid contact with people who have recently taken the oral polio vaccine. Check with your doctor about this.
Allergic reactions such as fever and chills may occur. Rarely, decreased blood pressure, swelling of the face, and coughing can occur. Tell your nurse right away if you get a fever or chills, hives, nausea, itching, headache, shortness of breath, or a swollen tongue or throat during treatment. Your nurse will stop your infusion and evaluate you.
Blood clots and bleeding have occured in clinical trials of this drug.
You should report shortness of breath, chest pain, severe headache, change in your mental status, loss of coordination, new weakness or numbness, or bleeding from any site.
Rarely, the drug can cause uncontrolled hypertension. If you are taking a drug for hypertension, talk to your doctor about this.
The drug may cause bleeding at tumor sites. If you have been told the cancer has spread to your brain, talk to your doctor about the risk of bleeding.
This drug is investigational, so new side effects may become known during the clinical studies.
Tell all the doctors, dentists, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug.
  • Most of the following side effects probably will not occur.
  • Your doctor or nurse will want to discuss specific care instructions with you.
  • They can help you understand these side effects and help you deal with them.
Side Effects:
More Common Side Effects
  • Allergic reactions
  • Infusion reaction with fever, shaking, or chills
  • Mouth sores
  • Constipation
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Headache
  • Feeling tired
  • Muscle aches
Less Common Side Effects
  • Nosebleed
  • Coughing up blood
  • Vomiting blood
  • Bleeding at tumor sites
  • Decreased platelet count
  • Sore throat
  • Intestinal blockage
  • Inflammation of intestines
  • Pain
  • Coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Decreased white blood cell count
Rare Side Effects
  • Rash with peeling of the skin
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • Blot clots in the lung
  • Bleeding in the brain or central nervous system
  • Decreased kidney function
  • Protein in the urine
Side Effects / Symptoms of the Drug

Call your doctor or nurse right away if you develop shortness of breath, chest pain, severe headache, change in your mental status, loss of coordination, new weakness or numbness, or bleeding from any site.
Other side effects not listed above can also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or nurse if you develop any problems.
FDA Approval: This drug is being studied for cancer treatment.