Chemotherapy with Targeted Agents for the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

• Published in: The oncologist (Dayton, Ohio) Vol. 14; no. 5; pp. 478 - 488
• Main Authors: Köhne, Claus‐Henning, Lenz, Heinz‐Josef
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Durham, NC, USA AlphaMed Press 01.05.2009
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal - adverse effects; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Bevacizumab; Cetuximab; Clinical Trials as Topic; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Humans; Irinotecan; Neoplasm Metastasis; Panitumumab; Phthalazines - therapeutic use; Pyridines - therapeutic use; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - antagonists & inhibitors; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - antagonists & inhibitors
• ISSN: 1083-7159; 1549-490X
• DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2008-0202

The introduction of novel agents targeted to specific molecular features of cancer cells promises more options and marked improvements in efficacy for treatment of colon cancer. This overview of clinical studies describes the effects of administering the targeted agents bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab, also known as monoclonal antibodies, to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. All three targeted agents have been approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products. Bevacizumab has been shown to extend survival when used in combination with irinotecan and 5‐fluorouracil–based chemotherapy, and the addition of cetuximab to irinotecan and 5‐fluorouracil–based chemotherapy overcomes irinotecan resistance. Cetuximab and panitumumab are both efficacious among refractory mCRC patients with wild‐type KRAS tumors. Other targeted agents, for example, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors erlotinib, gefitinib, sunitinib, and vatalanib (PTK787/ZK 222584), are currently in various stages of clinical development. This overview of clinical studies describes the effects of administering the targeted agents bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab, also known as monoclonal antibodies, to treat metastatic colorectal cancer patients.