A Pilot Study of Bevacizumab for Neoplastic Meningitis

Inclusion Criteria

• History of breast cancer, lung cancer or melanoma
• Diagnosis of NM as proven either by: 1. positive CSF cytology, or 2. magnetic resonance neuro-imaging, or 3. both
• Age >/=18 years.
• Routine laboratory studies adequate with bilirubin 1500, platelets> 75,000; Hb >/= 9.0.
• Patient able to sign informed consent and willing to participate in study primary objectives
• At least 1 week from last intrathecal chemotherapy (>2 weeks if liposomal cytarabine). Patients are allowed to have received prior chemotherapy for their tumor. No limit on prior chemotherapies will be made. Patients who have been treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors are permitted. Prior anti-VEGF targeted therapy is not permitted, unless patient has been off anti-VEGF therapy for 6 months and did not develop NM while on anti-VEGF therapy
• Karnofsky performance status (KPS) >/= 50%
• Pre-treatment CSF Indium 111 CSF flow study without evidence of obstruction.
• Patients on full-dose anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) with PT international normalized ratio (INR) >1.5 are eligible provided that: 1. Patients are receiving anticoagulation (warfarin or low molecular weight heparins (LMWH)) only if the patients can be off of warfarin for 4-5 days prior to the LP and placed on LMWH in that interim, and if the 'treatment dose' of LMWH can be safely held for 24 hours before and after the LP.
• ( 9. continued) INR must be 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > 90 mmHg despite antihypertensive medication). 2) Prior history of hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy. 3) New York Heart Association (NYHA) Grade II or greater congestive heart failure.
• ( 4. Continued) 4) History of myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 6 months prior to Day 1. 5) History of stroke or transient ischemic attack within 6 months prior to Day 1. 6) Significant vascular disease (e.g., aortic aneurysm, requiring surgical repair or recent peripheral arterial thrombosis) within 6 months prior to Day 1. 7) Clinically significant peripheral vascular disease. 8) Serious and inadequately controlled cardiac arrhythmia
• History of hemoptysis (>/= 1/2 teaspoon of bright red blood per episode) within 1 month prior to Day 1
• Evidence of bleeding diathesis or significant coagulopathy (in the absence of therapeutic anticoagulation)
• Major surgical procedure, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to Day 1 or anticipation of need for major surgical procedure during the course of the study
• Core biopsy or other minor surgical procedure, excluding placement of a vascular access device, within 7 days prior to Day 1. Ventricular reservoir must have been placed more than 28 days prior to Day 1.
• History of abdominal fistula or gastrointestinal perforation within 6 months prior to Day 1
• Serious, non-healing wound, active ulcer, or untreated bone fracture
• Proteinuria as demonstrated by UPC ratio >/=1.0 at screening or by urine dipstick >/= 2+. (Patients discovered to have >/= 2+ proteinuria on urinalysis at baseline should undergo a 24 hour urine collection and must demonstrate /= 2 cm from the trachea, main, and lobar bronchi).
• Pregnant (positive pregnancy test) or nursing women. Angiogenesis is critical to fetal development and the inhibition of angiogenesis following administration of AVASTIN is likely to result in adverse effects on pregnancy. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Both fertile men and women must agree to use adequate contraceptive measures during study therapy and for at least 2 months after the completion of bevacizumab therapy.
• General Medical Exclusions 1) Inability to comply with study and/or follow-up procedures 2) Life expectancy of less than 6 weeks 3) Current, recent (within 4 weeks of the first infusion of this study), or planned participation in an experimental drug study other than this Genentech supported study 4) Active malignancy, other