Cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy for patients with gastrointestinal cancer.
- Author:
Xiao-Tian ZHANG
1
;
Lin SHEN
;
Xiao-Dong ZHANG
;
Jie LI
;
Zhong-Tao ZHANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal; adverse effects; therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Agents; adverse effects; therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; therapeutic use; Cetuximab; Colorectal Neoplasms; drug therapy; metabolism; Combined Modality Therapy; Exanthema; chemically induced; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neutropenia; chemically induced; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor; metabolism; Remission Induction; Retrospective Studies; Stomach Neoplasms; drug therapy; metabolism; Young Adult
- From: Chinese Journal of Oncology 2008;30(5):385-388
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancers.
METHODSThe data of 35 colorectal cancers (CRC), 11 advanced gastric cancers (AGC) and 3 other gastrointestinal cancers treated with cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed, and the efficacy and adverse events were analyzed.
RESULTSOf the 49 patients, 37 were evaluable. Twenty-nine CRC were evaluated by RECIST criteria with a PR rate of 24.1%, SD rate of 51.8% and disease control rate (DC) of 75.9%. Subgroup analysis showed that the response rate (RR) and DC rate were 36.4% and 90.9% for the first-line therapy, 20.0% and 70.0% for the second-line therapy, 12.5% and 62.5% in the heavily pre-treated cases, respectively. Six patients with AGC were assessed for efficacy, including 2 PR for first-line therapy, 1 CR and 1 SD for second-line therapy, and 2 with progressive disease in the heavily pre-treated cases. Rash was observed in 79.6% of the patients with a grade 3 rate of 8.2%, and the severity was relevant to the DC. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was observed in 16.3%, and grade 3 infusion related reaction (IRR) happened in 4.1% (2 cases).
CONCLUSIONCetuximab combined with chemotherapy is safe and effective for patients with gastrointestinal cancer. In colorectal cancers, the combination therapy shows a high disease control rate, especially in first-line therapy. The severity of rash may be parallel with efficacy. The combination therapy is also promising in the treatment of AGC.
