Avastin may assist in fight against breast cancer
01/27/12The cancer drug Avastin was recently discovered to have a beneficial effect for those undergoing chemotherapy prior to breast cancer surgery.
The study showed that taking Avastin before undergoing chemotherapy might increase the chance that all cancer will be removed via surgery. However, two other studies that looked at which patients might benefit most from Avastin resulted in neither study being able to yet determine whether Avastin, sometime referred to as bevacizumab, would improve survival rates.
"The bevacizumab story is not done. The addition of Avastin to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with operable breast cancer increased the rate of women having the disappearance of their breast cancer at the time of surgery," Dr. Harry Bear, lead author of one of the new studies, said to HealthDay. "With more follow-up of these trials and several others, we may find that bevacizumab actually does increase the cure rate. But, it may not be for all breast cancers; it may just be for some."
In November 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revoked Avastin's approval to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. With the uncertainty surrounding cancer treatment drugs, acquiring life insurance might look more attractive to Americans.
