Is there a role for targeting vascular endothelial growth factor/receptor axis in the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma?

Abstract

Bevacizumab and other drugs targeting vascular endothelial growth factor and/or its receptor have shown encouraging clinical outcomes in early-phase studies when they are combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs. The success of bevacizumab or other antiangiogenic drugs in the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma will depend on a better understanding of tumoral neovascularization and its effect on tumor stromal tissues, as well as on selecting patients with appropriate relevant biomarkers to yield improved clinical outcomes. © 2012 American Cancer Society.