Cancer drug Avastin shows hope

According to a new study, the cancer drug Avastin has shown promising official results in treating brain cancer victims.

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and aggressive type of primary brain tumor, and accounts for 5227774704230f all primary brain tumor cases and 201151552424f all intracranial tumors.

Despite being the most prevalent form of a primary brain tumor, GBM's gradually develop at only 2-3 cases per 100,000 people in Europe and North America.

Treatment usually involves chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, all of which are palliative measures and do not provide recovery.

Dr. Timothy Cloughesy, who was the lead investigator for the study, says research has shown that only 15 percent of patients with this aggressive type of brain cancer live without their cancer gradually progressing within six months.

The five year survival rate of the disease has actively remained unchanged over the past 30 years and even after complete surgical resection of the tumor, combined with the best available treatment, the survival rate for GBM remains very low at less than three percent.

The recent study found that 36 percent of patients treated with Avastin alone and 51 percent treated with a compound of the drug and chemotherapy lived without the disease advancing within six months.

The researchers say more patients had lived without their cancer advancing than would normally be expected.

It is estimated that 20,000 cases of brain cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States, resulting in more than 12,000 deaths.