Research Article

Prospective analysis of KRAS wild-type patients with metastatic colorectal cancer using cetuximab plus FOLFIRI or FOLFOX4 treatment regimens

Published: October 03, 2011
Genet. Mol. Res. 10 (4) : 3002-3012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/2011.October.3.4
Cite this Article:
M.Y. Huang, M.J. Chen, H.L. Tsai, C.H. Kuo, C.J. Ma, M.F. Hou, S.C. Chuang, S.R. Lin, J.Y. Wang (2011). Prospective analysis of KRAS wild-type patients with metastatic colorectal cancer using cetuximab plus FOLFIRI or FOLFOX4 treatment regimens. Genet. Mol. Res. 10(4): 3002-3012. https://doi.org/10.4238/2011.October.3.4
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Abstract

Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting epidermal growth factor receptor, has proven to be efficient in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. We made a prospective study of the efficacy and toxicities of cetuximab-combination first-line (FOLFOX4) versus second/third-line (FOLFIRI) chemotherapy in 98 KRAS wild-type patients who had metastatic colorectal cancer. Wild-type KRAS had been identified by direct sequencing. Associations between clinical response/progression-free survival/overall survival/toxicities and cetuximab-combination chemotherapy timing were evaluated. The overall response rate was significantly higher for first-line treatment than for second/third-line treatment (relative risk = 1.707, 95% confidence interval = 1.121-2.598). Both progression-free survival and overall survival indicated significantly longer survival of first-line treatment than second/third-line treatment patients. This study is a validation of a molecular analysis of KRAS wild-type status for the prediction of response to cetuximab-combination chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer patients; its predictive role was less prominent in the second/third-line than in the first-line treatment patients.

Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting epidermal growth factor receptor, has proven to be efficient in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. We made a prospective study of the efficacy and toxicities of cetuximab-combination first-line (FOLFOX4) versus second/third-line (FOLFIRI) chemotherapy in 98 KRAS wild-type patients who had metastatic colorectal cancer. Wild-type KRAS had been identified by direct sequencing. Associations between clinical response/progression-free survival/overall survival/toxicities and cetuximab-combination chemotherapy timing were evaluated. The overall response rate was significantly higher for first-line treatment than for second/third-line treatment (relative risk = 1.707, 95% confidence interval = 1.121-2.598). Both progression-free survival and overall survival indicated significantly longer survival of first-line treatment than second/third-line treatment patients. This study is a validation of a molecular analysis of KRAS wild-type status for the prediction of response to cetuximab-combination chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer patients; its predictive role was less prominent in the second/third-line than in the first-line treatment patients.