The role of cetuximab in pre-treated refractory patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: outcome study in clinical practice.
We carried out a multicentric retrospective study on cetuximab + chemotherapy in pre-treated refractory patients outside clinical protocols, by registering the main clinical and pathological parameters. We evaluated 144 pre-treated patients. Cetuximab was administered usually in combination with irinotecan (93.8%). A 45% disease control rate (complete plus partial responses plus stable disease) was obtained in 55 patients and was related to absence of weight loss (p<0.0001) and high grade (> or =2) skin toxicity (p<0.0001). Median time to progression (TTP) was 4 months (95%CI 2.7-5.3) and median overall survival (OS) was 11.8 months (95%CI 8.5-15.1). Performance status << or =1, no weight loss and high grade (>or =22) skin toxicity were related both to a longer TTP (p=0.035, p=0.035, p=0.0017) and OS (p<0.0001, p<0.0001, p=0.006). According to multivariate analysis, the absence of weight loss was related to longer TTP (HR 0.331, p=0.004) and OS (HR 0.176, p<0.0001), and EGFR over-expression (3+) to longer TTP (HR 0.402, p=0.020).
Lelli
G
G
Oncology Units of S. Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy. lellig@unife.it
Cataldo
S
S
Carandina
I
I
Urbini
B
B
Bonetti
F
F
Marzola
M
M
Biasco
G
G
Pantaleo
M A
MA
Brandes
A
A
Calandri
C
C
Ravaioli
E
E
Nanni
O
O
Boni
C
C
Banzi
C
C
Negri
F
F
Panetta
A
A
DI Fabio
F
F
Turci
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000068818:Cetuximab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D015431:Weight Loss
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077146:Irinotecan; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002166:Camptothecin