Bevacizumab With or Without Surgery for Adult Glioblastomas

Objective The objective of this prospective randomized controlled study is to determine the overall survival benefit of tumor resection in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Study Population This study will recruit 42 adults with a diagnosis of recurrent grade 4 astrocytoma into each of two arms, for a total of 84 patients. All participants will be good candidates for elective surgical resection of their tumors according to the previously established NIH Recurrent Glioma Scale (NRGS), which uses performance status, tumor volume, and tumor involvement of critical/eloquent brain areas as prognostic criteria. Patients who require biopsy only or have previously been treated with bevacizumab will be excluded. Design Participants will be stratified by NRGS score (NRGS 0 or NRGS 1-2) and randomized to surgery followed by bevacizumab or to bevacizumab alone. Patients assigned to the surgical arm will undergo their procedure within 28 days of randomization. Treatment with bevacizumab at a dose of 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks will begin at least 28 days later to allow adequate craniotomy wound healing. Patients assigned to the non-surgical arm will start bevacizumab at a dose of 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks immediately. MRI evaluations will take place within 72 hours of surgery to assess extent of resection, 28 days postoperatively, 96 hours after starting bevacizumab, and then every 28 days until tumor progression is documented. Follow-up assessments will take place every 28 days while on bevacizumab until tumor progression. Once progression is established, patients will be free to pursue further surgical and/or medical salvage therapy as they wish. Patients will be followed until their time of death. Outcome Measures The primary outcome measure is median overall survival from the date bevacizumab is started. Secondary outcome measures include the rate of progression-free survival 6 months after starting bevacizumab, median progression-free survival, overall survival rates at 6 and 12 months after starting bevacizumab, objective response rate, health-related quality of life, change in KPS of 20 points or more, time to need for additional tumor therapy, and use of corticosteroids.