Malignant transformation of infantile hemangioma to angiosarcoma: Response to chemotherapy with bevacizumab

Abstract

We describe a child initially diagnosed with multi-focal infantile hemangioma (cutaneous, hepatic, pulmonary), a benign vascular lesion, which underwent malignant transformation to angiosarcoma. The use of anti-angiogenic agents, such as bevacizumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody, has been reported in adults with angiosarcoma. Treatment with chemotherapy (gemcitabine and docetaxel) and bevacizumab resulted in disease response with progression free survival of 12 months. This report describes the response to chemotherapy and bevacizumab in a child with angiosarcoma and highlights the potential for malignant transformation of benign vascular lesions and the need for careful monitoring.