Avastin and Tarceva for Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers

Erlotinib and bevacizumab have shown activity individually, as single drugs, or in combination with chemotherapy in upper gastro-intestinal cancers, including esophageal and gastro-esophageal adenocarcinomas, gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer. Biomarkers indicating an important role of EGF and VEGF have been found in these tumors, and in cholangiocarcinomas as well. There is promise that combined treatment with erlotinib and bevacizumab is active and tolerable in a broad range of upper gastro-intestinal cancers, justifying an experimental phase II-study of patients with these diagnoses, refractory or intolerant to standard systemic therapy.