Effect of bevacizumab against cystic components of brain tumors

Background Bevacizumab improves symptoms via reducing the peritumoral edema and/or normalizing blood brain barrier, and occasionally via reducing the tumor size. However, the effect against active cystic components has not been documented yet. Materials and Methods Between 2008 and 2018, 139 patients with primary or metastatic brain tumors were treated with bevacizumab (BEV) in our institution. The images and symptoms before and after administration of BEV were examined, and changes in size of cysts were evaluated as follows: CR (complete disappearance), PR (reduction by ≥50%), MR (reduction by ≥25%), SD (size change
Patients with cyst showed significant improvement in symptoms after the treatment with bevacizumab (BEV) compared to patients without cyst. Bevacizumab is effective against progressively increasing cysts. Although cyst reduction effect and tumor response and/or overall survival are independent, BEV may be effective in patients who are symptomatic due to cystic enlargement.