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Brand name: Avastin TM
Active ingredients: bevacizumab
What it is used for
Metastatic ColorectaI Cancer AVASTIN (bevacizumab) in combination with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Locally recurrent or metastatic Breast Cancer AVASTIN (bevacizumab) in combination with paclitaxel is indicated for the first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer in patients in whom an anthracycline-based therapy is contraindicated.(see Clinical Trials). Advanced, metastatic or recurrent non-squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) AVASTIN (bevacizumab), in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, is indicated for first-line treatment of patients with unresectable advanced, metastatic or recurrent, non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. Advanced and/or metastatic RenaI Cell Cancer AVASTIN (bevacizumab) in combination with interferon alfa-2a is indicated for treatment of patients with advanced and/or metastatic renal cell cancer Grade IV Glioma AVASTIN (bevacizumab) as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with Grade IV glioma after relapse or disease progression after standard therapy, including chemotherapy. EpitheliaI Ovarian, Fallopian Tube or Primary Peritoneal Cancer AVASTIN (bevacizumab) in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, is indicated for first-line treatment of patients with advanced (FIGO stages IIIB, IIIC and IV) epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian, Fallopian Tube or Primary Peritoneal Cancer AVASTIN (bevacizumab), in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel or in combination with carboplatin and gemcitabine, is indicated for the treatment of patients with first recurrence of platinum-sensitive, epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who have not received prior bevacizumab or other VEGF-targeted angiogenesis inhibitors. AVASTIN (bevacizumab) in combination with paclitaxel, topotecan or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who have received no more than two prior chemotherapy regimens, and have not received any prior anti-angiogenic therapy including bevacizumab. Cervical Cancer AVASTIN (bevacizumab) in combination with paclitaxel and cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of persistent, recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the cervix. AVASTIN (bevacizumab) in combination with paclitaxel and topotecan is an acceptable alternative where cisplatin is not tolerated or not indicated.
How to take it
You should seek medical advice in relation to medicines and use only as directed by a healthcare professional.
- The way to take this medicine: Intravenous
- Store at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius
- Do not Freeze
- Refrigerate
- Protect from Light
- Shelf lifetime is 2 Years.
Always read the label. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional.
Visual appearance
Clear to slightly opalescent, colourless to pale brown solution.
Do I need a prescription?
This medicine is available from a pharmacist and requires a prescription. It is
Pregnant or planning a pregnancy?
For the active ingredient bevacizumab
You should seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist about taking this medicine. They can help you balance the risks and the benefits of this medicine during pregnancy.
Download leaflet
For side effects, taking other medicines and more
Download consumer medicine information leaflet (pdf) from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website
Reporting side effects
You can help ensure medicines are safe by reporting the side effects you experience.
You can report side effects to your doctor, or directly at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
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Angiogenesis refers to the development of new blood vessels from the pre-existing beds containing the normal supply of blood vessels. Tumours are dependent on the formation of new blood vessels for their growth. Vascular-endothelial-growth-factor (VEGF) is a key molecule in promoting blood vessel growth. VEGF-targeting therapies are a new class of drugs designed to target a specific molecule. One of these drugs is bevacizumab (Avastin) which has been studied in clinical trials in metastatic breast cancer. Trials with other drugs are ongoing. Data are available from seven randomised trials, which evaluated the effect of bevacizumab on the primary endpoint in a total of 4032 patients with metastatic breast cancer. These patients were either-hormone receptor negative or had progressed on hormonal treatment. The primary end point was progression-free survival and secondary end points included overall survival, response rate measuring the change in size of the tumour, quality of life and toxicity of the treatment. Progression-free survival is considered a surrogate end point, i.e. a substitute for overall survival as an end point. The addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy significantly prolongs progression-free survival and response rates in patients who have had previous chemotherapy and those who have not had previous chemotherapy for metastatic disease. The magnitude of this benefit is dependent on the type of chemotherapy used. Best results have been observed for the combination of weekly paclitaxel and bevacizumab in patients without prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Although progression-free survival was significantly longer with bevacizumab, there was no significant effect observed on either overall survival or quality of life. Quality of life is a direct measure of benefit to the patient. Adverse effects of bevacizumab in breast cancer are generally manageable, but may be serious and include increased frequencies of high blood pressure, blood clots in arteries and bowel perforations. However, overall rates of treatment-related deaths were lower in patients treated with bevacizumab. Because of the lack of effect on overall survival and quality of life, it is regarded as controversial whether bevacizumab is associated with a true patient benefit in spite of the increase in progression-free survival.
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