Epidermal growth factor receptor and metastatic colorectal cancer: Insights into target therapies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has high incidence and mortality worldwide. In 2012, CRC was the second most prevalent cancer among males (9%) and the third among females (8%). In recent decades, standard chemotherapies protocols combining 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan and oxaliplatin were important for improve survival in this set of patients. Further, biological drugs throughout epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathways showed interesting results in metastatic disease (mCRC) control when in association to standard chemotherapy regimens. Cetuximab and panitumumab are two cornerstones for mCRC treatment and are both approved in Europe and United States based on previous results phase III trials. This paper will briefly summarize those anti-EGFR therapies framework in mCRC and discusses some issues in this regard.