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.