Specific Adverse Effects of Bevacizumab in the Treatment of Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) in Clinical Practice

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents about 85% of all lung cancers. In the last years, novel targeted therapies have been developed and approved in the treatment of NSCLC. Angiogenesis is a very complex process, and cancer angiogenesis is the most important event concerning cancer growth, invasion and metastasis. VEGF signalling pathway plays a significant role in cancer angiogenesis, and it is demonstrated that VEGF levels are correlated with increased angiogenesis and with poor prognosis and metastasis in NSCLC patients. Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanised monoclonal IgG1 antibody, it is one of the first agent used for anti-angiogenic treatment, and it was approved for the treatment of non-squamous NSCLC in combination with chemotherapy.