Response to reintroduction of cetuximab in 5 patients with advanced, chemotherapy-resistant, colorectal cancer without progressive disease following first-line therapy with a cetuximab-containing regimen.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to determine the response to cetuximab in advanced, chemotherapy-resistant, colorectal cancer following successful first-line therapy with the antibody.


METHODS
Five patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were treated with a cetuximab-containing regimen after failure of several conventional chemotherapies.


RESULTS
These patients had been successfully treated with cetuximab as first-line therapy, and the antibody was then discontinued without disease progression. No severe toxicities were observed upon reexposure to cetuximab. Partial response was noted in 1 patient and tumor stabilization in 2 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Reintroduction of cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy is safe and efficacious in patients with colorectal cancer whose tumors were not refractory to a prior cetuximab-containing therapy.
Kaechele
Volker
V
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
von Wichert
Goetz
G
Adler
Guido
G
Seufferlein
Thomas
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068818:Cetuximab; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D018450:Disease Progression; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab