{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.046567164179104475, 'fraction_numerical': 0.029253731343283584, 'mean_word_length': 5.161764705882353, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
A Pilot Study of Bevacizumab and Interferon-&agr;2b in Ocular Melanoma

Objectives: We hypothesized that administration of bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes vascular endothelial growth factor, in combination with high-dose interferon-alpha2b (IFN-&agr;2b), an inhibitor of basic fibroblast growth factor, would have clinical activity in patients with metastatic ocular melanoma. Methods: Patients with metastatic ocular melanoma received bevacizumab (15 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks) plus IFN-&agr;2b (5 MU/m2 subcutaneously 3 times weekly for 2 weeks followed by a dose of 10 MU/m2 subcutaneously thereafter). Patients exhibiting a clinical response or stabilization of disease were treated until disease progression. Results: In this pilot study, 5 patients were treated (3 men, 2 women) with a mean age of 63.8 years (range, 53–71 years). Overall, the regimen was well-tolerated. The following adverse events were noted: grade 3 dyspnea (2 patients), grade 3 and 4 fatigue (2), grade 3 muscle weakness (1), grade 3 anorexia (1), grade 1 and 2 proteinuria (2), and grade 3 diarrhea (1). All adverse events resolved with a treatment holiday or dose reduction. One patient had reduction in tumor burden of 23% by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria and 2 patients had stabilization of disease lasting 28 and 36 weeks, respectively. Two patients failed to respond and progressed after 6 and 7 weeks of therapy. Conclusion: Bevacizumab and IFN-&agr;2b were well tolerated in this patient population, and clinical activity was observed. Further study of high-dose IFN-&agr;2b in combination with bevacizumab in this setting is warranted.