Genentech today said it is seeking federal permission to have its cancer-fighting drug Avastin given accelerated approval to treat people with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration already has approved Avastin for use in combination with chemotherapy to treat colon and breast cancer. In today's announcement, the South San Francisco biotechnology giant said it is seeking approval to have the drug approved to treat glioblastoma, the most common type of brain tumor.