Neuropathological characteristics of progression after prolonged response to bevacizumab in multifocal hemangioblastoma

Oncol Res Treat. 2014;37(4):209-12. doi: 10.1159/000360780. Epub 2014 Mar 20.

Abstract

Background: Antiangiogenic treatment has been explored in few patients with hemangioblastoma after failure of surgery and radiotherapy.

Case report: We present the first histopathological follow-up study of a bevacizumab-responsive hemangioblastoma that eventually progressed. For a period of 12 months, therapy with bevacizumab achieved a clinical response and radiological stabilization in a patient with progressive multifocal central nervous system (CNS) hemangioblastoma. Subsequently, selected tumor sites showed radiological progression, in particular, the formation of an intramedullary lesion of the initially predominantly leptomeningeal disease. Histology showed diffuse dural invasion by the hemangioblastoma accompanied with a relatively reduced cell density compared to the preserved vessel structures.

Conclusion: The pattern of progression upon vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeting antiangiogenic treatment in hemangioblastoma may involve increased tumor invasiveness.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Bevacizumab
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Hemangioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Hemangioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / prevention & control*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / pathology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Bevacizumab