Roche said that FDA has granted accelerated review to Avastin drug as a treatment for glioblastoma, the most dangerous form of brain cancer.

Avastin is already used for treating various forms of colon, breast and lung cancers. Glioblastoma is one of the deadliest types of cancer. A Glioblastoma patient survives six to 12 months after diagnosis on average, or six months without treatment.

The U.S. panel informed that March data from two early studies showed enough of a response in patients whose disease did not advance and some whose tumors decreased in size to warrant faster approval before the company finishes a larger trial.

The panel added that early data for Avastin showed enough promise to be considered for quick approval for patients with an especially aggressive tumor, glioblastoma multiforme.

Roche said that about 10,000 patients are diagnosed with the disease each year in the United States.