Targeted therapy with bevacizumab (Avastin) for metastatic colorectal cancer

During the last decade, the development of new drugs known as targeted therapies was the result of a better understanding of the processes involved in the transformation of normal cells into cancer. The term targeted therapy refers to drugs that selectively target specific molecular pathways involved in tumorigenesis or tumour progression. Angiogenesis is important for tumour growth and metastasis, and is an important target for new biological agents. Bevacizumab is a humanised recombinant antibody that prevents vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor binding, and inhibits angiogenesis and tumour growth. On February 26, 2004, the Food and Drug Administration approved bevacizumab as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). The integration of targeted therapies in the treatment of colon cancer has resulted in significant improvements in efficacy outcomes. The efficacy of bevacizumab in the treatment of metastatic CRC is presented in this review article.