Bevacizumab as a steroid-sparing agent during immunotherapy for melanoma brain metastases: A case series.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Brain metastases are common in advanced melanoma and often necessitate corticosteroids such as dexamethasone to control symptoms and reduce peritumoral edema. Immunotherapy improves survival in metastatic melanoma, but concomitant treatment with corticosteroids may reduce efficacy. Here, we report the use of bevacizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, as a steroid-sparing agent in melanoma patients with brain metastases treated with immunotherapy.

Methods

Medical records and imaging were retrospectively analyzed for melanoma patients with brain metastases who received bevacizumab at our institution between 2012 and 2017.

Results

12 melanoma patients with brain metastases received bevacizumab (5-7.5 mg/kg Q2-3 W; median 4 cycles, rang

SUBMITTER: Banks PD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6427059 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature