Ultra-Low-Dose Bevacizumab For Cerebral Radiation Necrosis: A Prospective Phase II Clinical Study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the treatment efficacy of ultra-low-dose bevacizumab for cerebral radiation necrosis. METHODS: Patients with cerebral radiation necrosis after stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) confirmed by imaging were included. Bevacizumab (1 mg/kg, once every three weeks, for at least three continuous treatments) was administered. The primary endpoints included change in cerebral necrosis symptoms, volume of intracranial edema, and changes in MRI signals. The secondary endpoints were adverse reactions of bevacizumab treatment. RESULTS: In total, 21 patients were included in this study, all of whom received SRT between December 2016 and February 2019, developed cerebral radiation necrosis, and were treated with bevacizumab. Twenty patients were symptomatic from radiation necrosis, and the symptoms were alleviated in 18 patients (90%). Twenty patients had intracranial edema, and the grade of edema index (EI) was improved in 19 patients (95%). The intensity of the intracranial-enhanced MRI signals was significantly reduced in 20 patients (95.24%). The adverse reactions of bevacizumab treatment were mild, and no adverse reactions more severe than grade 2 were found. CONCLUSION: The preliminary results showed that ultra-low-dose bevacizumab had high efficacy for treating cerebral radiation necrosis, and could be a valid alternative to the standard-dose bevacizumab. CLINICAL REGISTRY: Chinese clinical trial registry (ChiCTR-IOD-16009803).