Efficacy of bevacizumab and erlotinib combination for leptomeningeal carcinomatosis after failure of erlotinib

Anticancer Drugs. 2017 Jun;28(5):565-567. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000000489.

Abstract

In patients with non-small-cell lung cancer harboring an epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) active mutation, central nervous system progression after a response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors is frequent. Central nervous system metastasis, especially leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC), is a serious complication and no standard treatment has been established for LMC. Here, we report two cases in which the addition of bevacizumab to erlotinib enhanced the efficacy against LMC; as a result, radiographic abnormalities decreased markedly and symptoms were well controlled. This combination treatment may be useful to treat LMC in patients with EGFR-positive non-small-cell lung cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bevacizumab / administration & dosage
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Meningeal Carcinomatosis / drug therapy*
  • Meningeal Carcinomatosis / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Treatment Failure

Substances

  • Bevacizumab
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride