Effects of the antiangiogenic drug bevacizumab on tumor perfusion and drug delivery of 11C-labeled docetaxel in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): Implications for scheduling of antiangiogenic agents

3059 Background: Current strategies combining anti-angiogenic drugs with chemotherapy provide clinical benefit in patients with advanced-stage NSCLC cancer. It has been hypothesized that pre-treatment with anti-angiogenic drugs may transiently normalize abnormal tumor vasculature and contribute to improved delivery of subsequent chemotherapy (Nat Med 2001;7:987-9). The purpose of the present study was to investigate this concept in NSCLC patients using a perfusion tracer ([15O]H2O), radiolabeled chemotherapy ([11C]docetaxel) and positron emission tomography (PET) before and after a single infusion of bevacizumab. Methods: A total of 70 PET scans were scheduled in 10 NSCLC patients. Patients underwent dynamic PET scans with [15O]H2O and [11C]docetaxel before, and at 5 hours and 4 days after IV administration of bevacizumab (15 mg·kg-1). An additional [15O]H2O scan was performed at 2 hours. Systemic effects of bevacizumab were investigated by assessing: (1) plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth facto...