Efficacy and safety of bevacizumab plus irinotecan in patients with recurrent malignant poor-prognosis glioma.

e12555 Background: There is currently no standard of care for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), although the anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody bevacizumab (Bev) has shown efficacy in conjunction with irinotecan (Iri). We present a retrospective analysis of patients with recurrent malignant brain tumors treated with Bev-Iri at our clinic. Methods: 37 adult patients with recurrent malignant brain tumors were included. Patient characteristics: median age 46 years, GBM diagnosis n = 26, other brain tumor histology n = 11. Prior surgery n = 34, prior chemotherapy n = 37, prior radiotherapy n = 32. Patients received Bev 10 mg/kg i.v. and Iri 125 mg/m2 i.v. (340 mg/m2 in one patient receiving enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs) every 14 days. Treatment was stopped on progression, patient's wish or physician's decision. Response was assessed using MacDonald's criteria on post-contrast MRI with inclusion of FLAIR, T2 and perfusion-weighted MRI. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored throughout therapy. Results: P...