“Salvage” neoadjuvant bevacizumab in newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

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2083 Background: Some patients (pts) with GBM are in such a poor condition at the onset of radiotherapy (RT), particularly because of severe steroid-resistant intracranial hypertension (ICH), that RT is cancelled. Our objective was to evaluate if upfront bevacizumab (BEV) could be of help in this rare setting, allowing some patients to resume standard radio-chemotherapy treatment. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all pts with newly diagnosed GBM who could not start RT because of severe ICH or altered neurological status incompatible with the requirements for administering RT and who received BEV as neo-adjuvant therapy. Clinical, radiological characteristics and response to BEV were recorded. It was also noted if radio-chemotherapy could be secondarily delivered. Results: Twelve pts received neo-adjuvant BEV because of larger tumor volume (N=8) or altered neurological status (N=4). All but one were diagnosed by biopsy. Median age was 60 years (range 19-72). All pts were under high dose steroids. Seven...