Medicina (May 2021)

Bevacizumab-Containing Chemoimmunotherapy for Recurrent Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer after Chemoradiotherapy: Case Report

  • Nobutaka Kataoka,
  • Yusuke Kunimatsu,
  • Rei Tsutsumi,
  • Nozomi Tani,
  • Izumi Sato,
  • Mai Tanimura,
  • Takayuki Nakano,
  • Keiko Tanimura,
  • Daishiro Kato,
  • Takayuki Takeda

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57060547
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 57, no. 6
p. 547

Abstract

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Chemoimmunotherapy has become the standard of care as the first-line treatment of advanced or recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The bevacizumab-containing chemoimmunotherapy regimen is theoretically more effective than a non-bevacizumab-containing regimen via two mechanisms: a superior outcome of bevacizumab-containing chemothrerapy than the standard platinum doublet regimen, and the synergistic effect of bevacizumab with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). Bevacizumab effectively normalizes vascularization, especially when the vascular bed is damaged by previous treatment. Bevacizumab promotes immunomodulation when used with ICI. We describe a patient with nonsquamous NSCLC who returned 2.5 years after definitive chemoradiotherapy for postoperative locoregional recurrence in the right supraclavicular lymph node. Considering the destroyed vascular bed due to prior chemoradiotherapy, attaining vascular normalization was critical for effective drug delivery. The patient was treated with a bevacizumab-containing chemoimmunotherapy regimen, which resulted in a complete metabolic response. The patient responded well for 23 months and is receiving ongoing treatment. Thus, bevacizumab-containing chemoimmunotherapy could be advantageous in some recurrent cases after chemoradiotherapy.

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