Abstract
The debate on the optimal drug combination for treating chemotherapy-naïve patients with metastatic colorectal cancer has recently become particularly heated. The present editorial will review recent data on this topic. The FIRE-3 and PEAK trials have shown a 7.5 to 12 mo survival advantage with the use anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) antibodies. The CALGB 80405 has shown no difference between anti-EGFR and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents. All three trials have consistently shown a significant increase in objective response rate. These data suggest that there is a subset of metastatic colorectal cancer patients, rigorously selected by molecular profiling, who particularly benefit from an anti-EGFR-based regimen in the first-line setting.
Keywords:
Bevacizumab; Cetuximab; Colorectal cancer; Panitumumab; RAS.
MeSH terms
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
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Biomarkers, Tumor / antagonists & inhibitors
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Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
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Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
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Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Colorectal Neoplasms / enzymology
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Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
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Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
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ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
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ErbB Receptors / metabolism
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Humans
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Molecular Targeted Therapy*
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Mutation
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Patient Selection
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Precision Medicine
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
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Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / antagonists & inhibitors
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Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / drug effects
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Treatment Outcome
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ras Proteins / genetics*
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Biomarkers, Tumor
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KRAS protein, human
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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EGFR protein, human
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ErbB Receptors
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Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
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ras Proteins