Treatment with anti-vegf antibodies

Abstract

This invention concerns in general treatment of diseases and pathological conditions with anti-VEGF antibodies. More specifically, the invention concerns the treatment of human patients susceptible to or diagnosed with cancer using an anti-VEGF antibody, preferably in combination with one or more additional anti-tumor therapeutic agents.

1 . A method of treating metastatic small cell lung cancer in a human patient, comprising administering to the patient effective amounts of an anti-VEGF antibody and an anti-neoplastic composition, wherein the anti-VEGF antibody is bevacizumab and the anti-neoplastic composition comprises at least one chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-VEGF antibody is administered concomitantly with said anti-neoplastic composition.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient is previously untreated.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-VEGF antibody is administered to the patient at about 5 mg/kg to about 15 mg/kg every 2 to 3 weeks.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-VEGF antibody is administered to the patient by intravenous infusion over 30-90 mins.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering to the patient a VEGF receptor antagonist selected from the group consisting of a VEGF variant, a soluble VEGF receptor fragment, an aptamer capable of blocking VEGFR, a neutralizing anti-VEGFR antibody, and a low molecule weight inhibitor of VEGFR tyrosine kinase.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering to the patient an antagonist of EGFR.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is an anti-hormonal agent.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is cisplatin, etoposide, paclitaxel, carboplatin, capecitabine, gemcitabine, vinorelbine, docetaxel, doxorubicin, or cyclophosphamide.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-neoplastic composition comprises a combination of at least two chemotherapeutic agents.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said at least two chemotherapeutic agents are cisplatin and etoposide.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the human patient has squamous carcinoma of the lung.