Complete pathological response to bevacizumab and chemoradiation in advanced rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Localized rectal cancer responds well to 5-fluorouracil and radiation-based regimens. A phase I-II trial is currently testing the efficacy of adding bevacizumab, a VEGF-specific antibody, to standard chemoradiotherapy. The case presented here is a complete pathological response seen in a patient with extensive and locally invasive carcinoma after receiving this combined treatment. INVESTIGATIONS: Physical examination, rectal ultrasound, PET-CT scan, laboratory tests, proctoscopic examination, chest radiograph, rectal forcep biopsies with immunohistochemistry, and protein and flow cytometric analyses. DIAGNOSIS: Large, invasive, ultrasound stage T4 carcinoma of the rectum, which was positive for survivin. MANAGEMENT: One 2-week cycle of bevacizumab alone, followed by 3 cycles of bevacizumab with continuous 5-fluorouracil infusion, and external-beam radiation therapy given 5 days per week to the pelvis, abdominoperineal resection with posterior vaginectomy, hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.