Cetuximab plus irinotecan in pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer patients: the ELSIE study

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cetuxim-ab plus irinotecan in irinotecan-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients from South-East Asia and Australia. METHODS:In this open-label,phase Ⅱ study,the main eligibility criteria were epidermal growth factor receptor-positive mCRC with progressive disease within 3 mo of an irinotecan-based regimen as the most recent chemotherapy. Patients received cetuximab 400 mg/m2 initially,then 250 mg/m2 every week,with the same regimen of irinotecan on...     

Modified irinotecan plus bolus 5-fluorouracil/L-leucovorin for metastatic colorectal cancer at a single institution in Japan

Background  The modified irinotecan plus bolus 5-fluorouracil/L-leucovorin (IFL) regimen (irinotecan plus bolus 5-fluorouracil/L-leucovorin) used to be one of the standard treatments for metastatic colorectal cancer until approval of oxaliplatin in Japan. We evaluated the efficacy of modified IFL therapy for Japanese patients. Methods  Forty-seven patients with metastatic colorectal cancer received irinotecan (100 mg/m²) and bolus 5-fluorouracil (500 mg/m²) plus L-leucovorin (10 mg/m²) on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks until progression or unmanageable toxicity occurred. The data on toxicity and tumor response were analyzed retrospectively. Results  All patients discontinued modified IFL therapy due to cancer progression, except for one patient who developed severe liver dysfunction. The overall response rate was 25%. The median progression-free survival time (PFS) was 6.1 months. The median overall survival time (OS) was 17.4 months for all patients, 28.8 months for patients receiving subsequent oxaliplatin therapy, and 8.9 months for patients without oxaliplatin (P = 0.0031). According to multivariate analysis results, good performance status, a normal white cell count, and absence of local recurrence were associated with a better PFS. Tumor response was a good prognostic factor for both PFS and OS. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common toxicities, including grade 3 diarrhea (8%) and grade 3 anorexia (10%). Grade 4 neutropenia occurred in 6% of patients. No other drug-related severe adverse events or deaths were observed. Conclusions  Modified IFL therapy is an effective and well-tolerated regimen for Japanese patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Modified IFL therapy combined with biological agents might remain an option for some patients who refuse a central venous catheter. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Efficacy of adjuvant XELOX and FOLFOX6 chemotherapy after D2 dissection for gastric cancer

AIM: To compare the efficacy of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) with 5-fluorouracil, folinic acid and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX6) in gastric cancer patients after D2 dissection. METHODS: Between May 2004 and June 2010, patients in our gastric cancer database who underwent D2 dissection for gastric cancer at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 896 patients were enrolled into this study according to the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of these patients, 214 received the XELOX regimen, 48 received FOLFOX6 therapy and 634 patients underwent surgery only without chemotherapy. Overall survival was compared among the three groups using Cox regression and propensity score matchedpair analyses. RESULTS: Patients in the XELOX and FOLFOX6 groups were younger at the time of treatment (median age 55.2 years; 51.2 years vs 58.9 years), had more undifferentiated tumors (70.1%; 70.8% vs 61.4%), and more lymph node metastases (80.8%; 83.3% vs 57.7%), respectively. Overall 5-year survival was 57.3% in the XELOX group which was higher than that (47.5%) in the surgery only group (P = 0.062) and that (34.5%) in the FOLFOX6 group (P = 0.022). Multivariate analysis showed that XELOX therapy was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio = 0.564, P < 0.001). After propensity score adjustment, XELOX significantly increased overall 5-year survival compared to surgery only (58.2% vs 44.2%, P = 0.025) but not compared to FOLFOX6 therapy (48.5% vs 42.7%, P = 0.685). The incidence of grade 3/4 adverse reactions was similar between the XELOX and FOLFOX6 groups, and more patients suffered from hand-foot syndrome in the XELOX group (P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Adjuvant XELOX therapy is associated with better survival in patients after D2 dissection, but does not result in a greater survival benefit compared with FOLFOX6 therapy.     

A phase II study of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX): a new first-line option in metastatic colorectal cancer

Background: Capecitabine and oxaliplatin are both effective and well-tolerated monotherapies for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Oxaliplatin has also been shown to be very effective when combined with 5-FU/LV in the first-line setting. Aim of the Study: Assess the efficacy and safety of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) in patients with previously untreated advanced CRC. Methods: Fifty-three patients with measurable disease received capecitabine 1,000 mg/m² twice daily on d 1–14 and oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² on d 1, every 3 wk. Of these, 52 were evaluable for safety and 49 for antitumor response. Results: There was a low rate of grade 1/2 adverse events; grade 3/4 events included leukopenia (10%), neutropenia (6%), thrombocytopenia (2%), nausea/vomiting (4%), and diarrhea (4%). The overall response rate was 39% (95% CI, 25–54%) and median time to disease progression was 7.8 mo. Conclusions: XELOX is an active and well-tolerated first-line treatment for advanced CRC. Randomized phase III studies are ongoing to compare XELOX with FOLFOX in view of the comparable efficacy and safety but superior convenience of XELOX therapy. Presented in part at the 39th American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, May 31–June 3, 2003.     

Standard chemotherapy with cetuximab for treatment of colorectal cancer

AIM: To review and assess the evidence related to cetuximab treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer(mCRC) with regard to KRAS status.METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane database and American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting abstracts were searched for randomized controlled trials(RCTs) reporting the effect of KRAS status on efficacy of chemotherapy regimen with or without cetuximab in mCRC. Baseline information such as sex and age was summarized from the included studies.Hazard ratios of progression-free survival(PFS) and overall survival(OS) as well as objective response based on KRAS status were extracted for analysis.RESULTS: A total of 8 RCTs with 6780 patients were included. The combined analysis showed that cetuximab failed to improve the OS and PFS in patients with mCRC.However, in subgroup analysis, the pooled data showed that addition of cetuximab to irinotecan containing chemotherapy regimen was sufficient to improve OS and PFS in wild-type KRAS mCRC patients, but not in patients with mutant-type KRAS. The addition of cetuximab increased the incidence of adverse events such as diarrhea, rash, skin toxicity/rash, and nausea and vomiting. There was no significant publication bias existing in the included studies.CONCLUSION: The clinical benefit of cetuximab was only confirmed in patients with wild-type KRAS. KRAS status could be considered a biomarker of efficacy of cetuximab.     

Impact of KRAS mutation and PTEN expression on cetuximab-treated colorectal cancer

AIM:To investigate the prognostic value of KRAS mutation,and phosphatase and tensin (PTEN) expression in Chinese metastatic colorectal cancer metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients treated with cetuximab.METHODS:Ninety Chinese mCRC patients treated with cetuximab were evaluated for KRAS mutation and PTEN protein expression by DNA sequencing of codons 12 and 13 and immunohistochemistry,respectively.We then selected 61 patients treated with cetuximab,either in combination with chemotherapy,or alone as a second-line or third-line regimen to assess whether KRAS mutation or PTEN protein expression is associated with the response and the survival time of mCRC patients treated with cetuximab.RESULTS:KRAS mutation was found in 30 (33.3%) tumor samples from the 90 patients,and positive PTEN expression was detected in 58 (64.4%) of the 90 patients.Among the 61 patients who were treated with cetuximab as a second-line or third-line regimen,the resistance to cetuximab was found in 22 patients with KRAS mutation and in 39 patients without KRAS mutation,with a response rate of 4.5% and 46.1% respectively (P=0.001),a shorter median progression-free survival (PFS) time of 14 ± 1.3 wk and 32 ± 2.5 wk respectively (P < 0.001),a median overall survival (OS) time of 11 ± 1.2 mo and 19 ± 1.8 mo respectively (P < 0.001),as well as in 24 patients with negative PTEN expression and in 37 patients with positive PTEN expression respectively (P < 0.001),with a responsive rate of 4.2% and 48.6% respectively,a shorter median PFS survival time of 17 ± 2.0 wk and 28 ± 1.9 wk respectively (P=0.07),and a median OS time of 11 ± 1.3 mo and 18 ± 1.9 mo respectively (P=0.004).Combined KRAS mutation and PTEN expression analysis showed that the PFS and OS time of patients with two favorable prognostic factors were longer than those of patients with one favorable prognostic factor or no favorable prognostic factor (P < 0.001).CONCLUSION:KRAS mutation and PTEN protein expression are significantly correlated with the response ra     

Role of cetuximab in first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

The treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer(mCRC)has evolved considerably in the last decade,currently allowing most mCRC patients to live more than two years.Monoclonal antibodies targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)and vascular endothelial growth factor play an important role in the current treatment of these patients.However,only antibodies directed against EGFR have a predictive marker of response,which is the mutation status of v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog(KRAS).Cetuximab has been shown to be effective in patients with KRAS wild-type mCRC.The CRYSTAL study showed that adding cetuximab to FOLFIRI(regimen of irinotecan,infusional fluorouracil and leucovorin)significantly improved results in the first-line treatment of KRAS wildtype mCRC.However,results that evaluate the efficacy of cetuximab in combination with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in this setting are contradictory.On the other hand,recent advances in the management of colorectal liver metastases have improved survival in these patients.Adding cetuximab to standard chemotherapy increases the response rate in patients with wild-type KRAS and can thus increase the resectability rate of liver metastases in this group of patients.In this paper we review the different studies assessing the efficacy of cetuximab in the first-line treatment of mCRC.     

Beyond KRAS: Predictive factors of the efficacy of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

Systematic analysis of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway revealed that biomarkers could be used to predict the response to and outcome of anti-EGFR therapies in patients affected by metastatic colorectal cancer. We have conducted a review on the most recent findings and advances on this topic. To this aim, we searched the PubMed database for articles devoted to predictive and prognostic biomarkers for patients administered cetuximab- and panitumumab-based therapies. Here we review the state of the art and the controversies about the molecular factors known to be predictors of the efficacy of anti-EGFR therapy, namely, KRAS, BRAF, NRAS, PI3KCA and PTEN, and we discuss their prognostic value in colorectal cancer patients.     

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing chemotherapy plus bevacizumab with chemotherapy alone in metastatic colorectal cancer

Purpose  Bevacizumab has demonstrated survival benefit in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients when combined with chemotherapy. Several randomized clinical studies have evaluated bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy. Meta-analysis was performed to better assess the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab with chemotherapy for mCRC. Materials and methods  Five clinical trials randomizing a total of 3,103 mCRC patients to chemotherapy alone or to the combined treatment of chemotherapy plus bevacizumab were identified. The efficacy data included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and overall response rate (ORR), and the safety data contained the 60-day all-cause mortality rate, adverse events (AEs), and specific toxicity such as hypertension, thrombosis, bleeding, proteinuria, gastrointestinal perforation, diarrhea, and leucopenia. Result  There was a significant PFS benefit (P = 0.00; hazards ratio [HR] = 0.66) and OS benefit (P = 0.00; HR = 0.77) in favor of the combined treatment. The ORR was significantly higher on the bevacizumab-containing arm (P = 0.021; relative risk [RR] = 1.5), while CR was comparable between the two arms (P = 0.09). A higher incidence of grade 3/4 AEs, grade 3/4 hypertension, grade 3/4 thromboembolic/thrombotic events, grade 3/4 bleeding, and gastrointestinal perforation was associated with the bevacizumab group. The two treatment groups were similar in terms of grade 3/4 proteinuria, grade 3/4 leukopenia, grade 3/4 diarrhea, and the 60-day all-cause mortality rate. Conclusion  The addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy confers a clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in OS, PFS, and ORR. Its side effects are predictable and manageable and do not compound the incidence or severity of toxicities from chemotherapy.     

Prognostic and predictive biomarkers in metastatic colorectal cancer anti-EGFR therapy

AIM: To reviewing genetic and epigenetic make-up of metastatic colorectal cancers(m CRCs) addicted to epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) signalling.METHODS: The present study summarizes the potential value of prognostic and predictive biomarkers in selecting m CRC patients treated with anti-EGFR therapy. A meta-analysis was performed using a systematic search of Pub Med, Medline and Web of Science to identify eligible papers until March 21 st, 2016 using these following terms: ‘‘colorectal cancer', "predictive biomarkers' ', "anti-EGFR therapy", "KRAS", "NRAS', "PIK3CA", "TP53", "PTEN", ‘‘EGFR", "MET", "HER2", "epiregulin", "amphiregulin", "prognostic biomarkers", "BRAF", "miR NA" and "antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity(ADCC) activity". Two investigators independently evaluated and extracted data from each identified studies based on selected criteria of inclusion and exclusion. RESULTS: The introduction of agents targeting EGFR such as cetuximab and panitumumab increased overall survival of mC RCs. Nevertheless, it has firstly became evident that response rates to cetuximab regimens in unselected patient populations were typically lower than 30%. Clinical data confirmed the predictive value of RAS mutations for resistance to cetuximab and panitumumab leading to the license of these monoclonal antibodies exclusively for the management of patients with RAS-wild type colorectal cancers. So far the identification of predictive biomarkers have generated interesting, though preliminary and, at times, conflicting data on the importance of tumour mR NA levels of EGFR ligands, of activating mutations in other genes such as NRAS and PIK3 CA. The prognostic value of selected micro RNAs level and ADCC activity is under investigation, while the prognostic impact of BRAF status remains controversial.CONCLUSION: This review focuses on the personalized treatment of m CRC and discusses the potential of new prognostic and predictive biomarkers in selecting patients treated with anti-EGFR therapy.     

贝伐珠单抗联合不同化疗方案治疗进展期结直肠癌54例分析

目的研究贝伐珠单抗(Bev)联合化疗治疗进展期结直肠癌的疗效和安全性。方法对2005年11月至2011年3月北京大学肿瘤医院接受Bev联合化疗治疗进展期结直肠癌54例进行分析。Bev 5 mg/kg静脉输注每2周1次或7.5 mg/kg静脉输注每3周1次,联合以奥沙利铂为基础的化疗,以伊立替康为基础的化疗,或以氟尿嘧啶类为基础的化疗进行治疗。按实体肿瘤疗效评价标准(RECIST)评价疗效,每6周评价1次。按美国癌症研究所常见毒性判定标准(NCI-CTC)3.0版评价不良反应。结果 54例中男26例,女28例;中位年龄50(24～73)岁。初治22例,21例可评价疗效,有效率(RR)为33.3%(7/21),疾病控制率(DCR)为100%(21/21);中位疾病无进展(PFS)时间11.3个月,总生存时间(OS)20.9个月。全部54例中,部分缓解(PR)12例(23.5%),稳定(SD)32例(62.7%),进展(PD)7例(13.5%),3例无法评价疗效;中位PFS 8.4个月,中位OS 15.5个月。主要3～4度不良反应为白细胞减少9例(16.7%),粒细胞减少13例(24.1%),粒细胞减少性发热1例(1.9%);3度恶心、呕吐2例(3.8%),3度腹泻3例(5.7%)。与贝伐珠单抗相关的不良反应为蛋白尿2例(3.8%),血压升高1例,鼻衄2例,痔疮出血2例,但均为1～2度。结论贝伐珠单抗联合化疗治疗进展期结直肠癌对于初治患者疗效较好,且未加重化疗的不良反应。     

KRAS突变对抗EGFR单抗治疗转移性结直肠癌影响的Meta分析

目的评价化疗或联合抗EGFR单抗治疗转移性结直肠癌的临床疗效与KRAS基因突变的关系。方法用"colorectal carcinoma"、"cetuximab"、"Panitumumab"系统检索PubMed、EMBASE、Ovid、CENTRAL(2000年1月-2011年11月)中关于KRAS突变对化疗或联合抗EGFR单抗(包括Cetuximab和Panitumumab)治疗转移性结直肠癌疗效的影响。结果包括无进展期(progressionfree survival,PFS)和总生存期(overall survival,OS)及其相应HR,依据Cochrane Handbook 5.0.2对符合标准的RCT进行Meta分析。结果 PFS的HR在KRAS野生型患者和突变型患者分别为-0.22(95%CI:-0.37~-0.07,P=0.005)和1.07(95%CI:0.88~1.30,P=0.48),OS的HR在KRAS野生型和突变型则为0.83(95%CI:0.82~0.85,P0.00001)、1.04(95%CI:0.95~1.15,P=0.40)。抗EGFR治疗均未见明显延长KRAS突变型mCRC患者的PFS和OS。结论 KRAS状态是预测mCRC患者抗EGFR治疗疗效的有效生物学标志之一。     

Treatment dilemmas of cetuximab combined with chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer

Although monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have largely enriched the available therapeutic choices for colorectal cancer (CRC), the understanding and management of their associated clinical toxicities are limited. In addition, the combined strategies of administering EGFR mAbs and traditional cytotoxic agents, such as 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and irinotecan, have resulted in a more complicated management of CRC treatment-related side effects compared with EGFR mAb monotherapy. We believe that a thorough recognition of the toxicities of EGFR mAb drugs is essential for physicians to increase the therapeutic index in the treatment of CRC. This review aims to summarize the existing information regarding the treatment dilemmas of cetuximab combined with chemotherapy in the management of metastatic CRC.     

FOLFOX4 in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in elderly patients: A prospective study

Elderly patients constitute a subpopulation with special characteristics that differ from those of the general population and have been under-represented in clinical trials. We, prospectively, analyzed the toxicity and efficacy of the original FOLFOX4-regimen in the treatment of elderly patients affected by metastatic (m) colorectal cancer (CRC). Thirty-six consecutive patients aged 67-82 years (median age 72 years), 22 males and 14 females, with mCRC and measurable disease, were enrolled in the study. The primary site of metastases was the liver (36.1% of patients). The median ECOG Performance Status (PS) was 1. The main hematological and extra-hematological (grade 3 or 4) toxicities were neutropenia (38.9%) and neurological (13.9%), respectively. A total of 36 patients, aged 67-82 years were included. Twenty-two and 14 patients were male and female, respectively. The median age was 72 years (range 67-82). The primary site of metastases was the liver (36.1% of patients). The median ECOG Performance Status (PS) was 1. The overall response rate (ORR) was 44.4% and similar to original study. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.5 months and median overall survival (OS) was 16 months. The main hematological and extra-hematological (grade 3 or 4) toxicities were neutropenia (38.9%) and neurological (13.9%), respectively. Tolerability, however, was manageable and no toxic death occurred. FOLFOX4-regimen maintains its efficacy, and safety ratio in elderly patients with mCRC and good performance status. It would be considered the treatment of choice in the treatment of this particular setting of patients.     

FOLFOX/FOLFIRI pharmacogenetics:The call for a personalized approach in colorectal cancer therapy

While 5-fluorouracil used as single agent in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer has an objective response rate around 20%,the administration of combinations of irinotecan with 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid or oxaliplatin with 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid results in significantly increased response rates and improved survival.However,the side effects of systemic therapy such as myelotoxicity,neurotoxicity or gastrointestinal toxicity may lead to life-threatening complications and have a major impact on the quality of life of the patients.Therefore,biomarkers that would be instrumental in the choice of optimal type,combination and dose of drugs for an individual patient are urgently needed.The efficacy and toxicity of anticancer drugs in tumor cells is determined by the effective concentration in tumor cells,healthy tissues and by the presence and quantity of the drug targets.Enzymes active in drug metabolism and transport represent important determinants of the therapeutic outcome.The aim of this review was to summarize published data on associations of gene and protein expression,and genetic variability of putative biomarkers with response to therapy of colorectal cancer to 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin/oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil/leukovorin/irinotecan regimens.Gaps in the knowledge identified by this review may aid the design of future research and clinical trials.