A special brain scan may show early if bevacizumab is working
Original title: [18F]FET PET imaging for early response assessment of bevacizumab in recurrent glioblastoma.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
The scan was studied in people, but the new scan rules still need more testing.
The short version
A special scan may show early if a drug is helping a brain tumor that came back.
What was studied. The study looked at 82 people whose glioblastoma: A glioma that is given grade 4, the highest grade. It grows fast. Treatment usually starts soon after it is found. It often means surgery, then radiation and chemotherapy. See the glossary came back. Each got bevacizumab: A drug that acts on the blood vessels a tumor builds. In brain tumors it is used mainly to control symptoms from swelling, and to reduce how much steroid someone needs. See the glossary with another drug and had a special PET scan before treatment and after 2 rounds.
What they found. After 2 rounds of treatment, tumors looked smaller and less active on the scan. By the current scan rules, 68% of people responded, and those people tended to live longer. The team also found 3 new scan signs that did better at spotting who the drugs were helping.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: Today, this drug mix helps only about 25% of people whose tumor comes back. If these results hold up, a scan like this might tell doctors early if the drugs are working. That could help you and your doctor plan next steps sooner.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean the new scan signs are ready for everyday care. The researchers say they still need more work and more testing. This study did not test a new treatment. It does not mean the drug will work for you, and it is not a cure.
Source: PubMed, August 17, 2026 · Read the original
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