What is Glioblastoma (GBM)?

As you learn about GBM, it's helpful to know about your central nervous system, which is made up of the brain and spinal cord. Both play important roles in controlling different functions of your body. The brain is a spongy mass of cells that is protected by the skull. It's a complex organ that controls your emotions, thoughts, speech, physical coordination, vision, hearing, movement, and sensation. The spinal cord is a long mass of nerves that extends from the brainstem down the spine and controls movement and sensation.

Chart: Understanding your central nervous system

Understanding GBM

Glioblastoma is also called grade IV astrocytoma or GBM. It is a mass of abnormal cells that has grown out of control, forming a tumor in the brain or spinal cord. GBM is usually fast growing and is the most common type of primary brain tumor. It can develop in any area of the brain, and like most brain cancers, GBM can spread through the brain tissue, but rarely spreads to other areas outside of the central nervous system.

All GBM tumors have abnormal and numerous blood vessels, a common feature of a fast-growing tumor. These blood vessels deliver necessary oxygen and nutrients to GBM tumors, helping them grow and spread. In addition, these blood vessels easily mix with normal brain tissue and travel away from the main tumor, which makes GBM tumors a challenge to treat.

Next Page: Treatment Option for GBM

Indication

Avastin is approved by the FDA for use on its own for treating glioblastoma (GBM) that has progressed after prior treatment. The effectiveness of Avastin in GBM is based on tumor response. Currently, no data have shown whether Avastin improves disease-related symptoms or survival in people previously treated for GBM.

Serious Side Effects

Avastin can result in the development of a potentially serious, and sometimes fatal, side effect called gastrointestinal (GI) perforation. GI perforation is the development of a hole in the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and fever. Avastin therapy should be stopped if GI perforation occurs.

Treatment with Avastin can lead to slow or incomplete wound healing (for example, when a surgical incision has trouble healing or staying closed). In some cases, this event resulted in fatality. Stop Avastin for at least 28 days before voluntary surgery. Do not start Avastin for at least 28 days after surgery and until the surgical wound is fully healed. Avastin therapy should be stopped in patients who experience slow or incomplete wound healing.

Treatment with Avastin can result in serious and sometimes fatal bleeding. This includes coughing up blood, bleeding in the stomach, vomiting blood, bleeding in the brain, nosebleeds, and vaginal bleeding. People who have recently coughed up blood or have serious bleeding should not receive Avastin.

Please click here for additional important safety information.

Indication

Avastin is approved by the FDA for use on its own for treating glioblastoma (GBM) that has progressed after prior treatment. The effectiveness of Avastin in GBM is based on tumor response. Currently, no data have shown whether Avastin improves disease-related symptoms or survival in people previously treated for GBM.

Possible Serious Side Effects and Additional Important Safety Information

What is the most important safety information I should know about Avastin?

Avastin can result in the development of a potentially serious, and sometimes fatal, side effect called gastrointestinal (GI) perforation. GI perforation is the development of a hole in the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and fever. Avastin therapy should be stopped if GI perforation occurs.

Treatment with Avastin can lead to slow or incomplete wound healing (for example, when a surgical incision has trouble healing or staying closed). In some cases, this event resulted in fatality. Stop Avastin for at least 28 days before voluntary surgery. Do not start Avastin for at least 28 days after surgery and until the surgical wound is fully healed. Avastin therapy should be stopped in patients who experience slow or incomplete wound healing.

Treatment with Avastin can result in serious and sometimes fatal bleeding. This includes coughing up blood, bleeding in the stomach, vomiting blood, bleeding in the brain, nosebleeds, and vaginal bleeding. People who have recently coughed up blood or have serious bleeding should not receive Avastin.

What are the additional possible serious side effects of Avastin?

Serious side effects with Avastin include:

The formation of an abnormal passage from parts of the body to another part, sometimes fatal. Stop Avastin therapy if this occurs
Stroke or heart problems, which can be fatal. Heart problems include blood clots, mini-stroke, heart attack, and chest pain. Stop Avastin therapy if these occur
Too much protein in the urine, which may lead to kidney problems, sometimes fatal. Your doctor will monitor your protein level and may stop Avastin therapy if your level is too high
High blood pressure. Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure and may start you on medications to control your blood pressure. Temporarily stop Avastin if not controlled with medications. Avastin should be stopped if blood pressure severely spikes or if disturbance of the brain from high blood pressure occurs
Nervous system and vision disturbances. Symptoms may include high blood pressure, headache, seizure, sluggishness, confusion, and blindness. Stop Avastin therapy if these symptoms occur
Infusion reactions. These may include high blood pressure or severe high blood pressure that may lead to stroke, difficulty breathing, decreased oxygen in red blood cells, a serious allergic reaction, chest pain, headaches, tremors, and excessive sweating. Stop Avastin therapy if severe infusion reactions occur

What are the most common side effects of Avastin?

The most common side effects of Avastin that occurred at >10% and at least twice the control rate include nosebleeds, headache, high blood pressure, inflammation of the nose, too much protein in the urine, taste change, dry skin, rectal bleeding, tear production disorder, back pain, and inflammation of the skin.

What should I do if I am pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant?

You should not take Avastin while you are pregnant. If you stop Avastin, you should use a contraceptive for at least 6 months after your last dose before attempting to become pregnant.

What should I tell my health care provider before taking Avastin?

Avastin therapy may not be appropriate for certain people. Talk to your doctor if you:

Are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant. Based on animal data, Avastin may harm the fetus
Are breast-feeding. Avastin may pass into your breast milk
Are undergoing surgery. Avastin should not be given for at least 28 days after surgery and until the surgical wound is fully healed
Are under the age of 18. The safety and efficacy of Avastin in children have not been evaluated

Please see full Product Information, including Serious Side Effects, for additional important safety information.