Progress of Anti-angiogenic Therapies on Malignant Pleural Effusions

Malignant pleural effusion(MPE) is a common complication of advanced tumors. Lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma(MPM) are the most common causes of MPE. The principle of MPE treatment is to treat the thoracic cavity locally on the basis of etiological systemic treatment. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) plays a key role in the formation of MPE. Bevacizumab can inhibit the activity of VEGF, reduce the formation of MPE and improve the prognosis. This article systematically reviews the research progress of bevacizumab and other anti-angiogenic drugs on MPE caused by NSCLC and MPM, and illustrates the clinical efficacy and safety of different anti-angiogenic drugs on MPE.