Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39941885›Full record

ReviewCancers2025

Efficacy and Toxicity of Bevacizumab in Children with NF2-Related Schwannomatosis: A Systematic Review.

Annemijn L Tops, Josefine E Schopman, Radboud W Koot, Hans Gelderblom, Nabila A Putri, Latifah N A Rahmi, Jeroen C Jansen, Erik F Hensen

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cancers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. [BMJ open · 2026
    Article
  3. Bevacizumab in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology.Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Annemijn L TopsDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.ORCID 0009-0003-1845-8116
Josefine E SchopmanDepartment of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-6410-9484
Radboud W KootDepartment of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.
Hans GelderblomDepartment of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-9270-8636
Nabila A PutriSchool of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta 14440, Indonesia.
Latifah N A RahmiFaculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia.
Jeroen C JansenDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-3955-0152
Erik F HensenDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-4393-7421

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesNF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2) is a tumor predisposition syndrome that typically presents with bilateral vestibular schwannomas, together with other intracranial and spinal schwannomas, meningiomas, and/or ependymomas. Bevacizumab, a VEGF inhibitor, has the potential to decrease schwannoma volume and improve hearing in adults, but the literature on the effects in children is sparse. This narrative review aims to evaluate the use of bevacizumab in pediatric NF2 patients, focusing on hearing, tumor progression, and toxicity.

methodsA literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Articles were searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Emcare, and Academic Search Premier on 18 July 2024. Inclusion criteria were patients ≤ 18 years, diagnosed with NF2 and treated with bevacizumab. Two authors independently assessed the quality of the evidence and extracted relevant data from the included articles.

resultsSeventeen articles including 62 pediatric NF2 patients met the inclusion criteria. Studies varied widely in treatment regimens and outcome parameters. Tumor regression was reported in 6/56 patients (11%) and 38/56 (68%) remained stable. Hearing improved in 15/45 patients (33%) and did not further deteriorate in 27/45 (60%). An improvement in other symptoms was seen in 6/29 patients (28%). Toxicity was reported in five studies, documenting 13 adverse events in 28 patients ranging from grade 1 to grade 3. Treatment was discontinued in both patients who experienced grade 3 toxicity.

conclusionsBevacizumab seems to be a viable treatment option for pediatric NF2 patients. Tumor regression or stabilization is achieved in the majority of patients (77%). Moreover, a considerable number of pediatric patients experience hearing stabilization or improvement (93%). Bevacizumab appears to be relatively well tolerated, offering a non-invasive therapeutic option for children with NF2 suffering from progressive vestibular schwannomas and hearing loss.

Indexed as

adverse eventsbevacizumabchildrenhearingneurofibromatosis type 2schwannomatosistumor responsevestibular schwannoma

Identifiers

PMID39941885
PMCPMC11817438

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.