title: [Efficacy of cetuximab combined with chemotherapy on advanced colorectal cancer: a report of 53 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies showed that cetuximab combined with chemotherapy was effective on advanced colorectal cancer (ACRC) in recent years, however, few reports based on large case cohort are available in China. This study was to analyze the efficacy of cetuximab combined with chemotherapy for 53 chinese patients with ACRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data of 53 patients with ACRC, treated with cetuximab combined with chemotherapy in Sun Yat-sen Cancer Center from March 2005 to April 2008, were analyzed for short-term efficacy and safety. The efficacy of the regimen used as first-line and non-first-line treatment was compared by Chi-square test; the effect of the regimen on prognosis was analyzed by multivariate Cox proportional hazards model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 53 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, 40 were men and 13 were women, with a median age of 55 years. A total of 572 weeks (median, 8 weeks) of cetuximab treatment were completed. The overall response rate (RR) of the regimen was 39.6% and the disease control rate 66.0%. The disease control rates were similar when the regimen was used as first-line and non-first-line treatment (80.3% vs. 60.5%, P=0.177). For all 53 patients, clinical stage was an independent prognostic factor (P=0.002, OR>1). The most common Grade 3 to 4 adverse events included acne-like rash (7.5%), neutropenia (18.9%), and diarrhea (5.6%). No hypersensitive reaction or treatment-related death was observed. Only one patient discontinued treatment because of Grade 4 diarrhea and neutopenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cetuximab combined with chemotherapy can achieve relatively high disease control rate for ACRC patients, with less adverse events. Whether cetuximab has better effect in first-line treatment than in non-first-line treatment needs further study.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.
authors: Gui-Fang
authors: GF
authors: Guo
authors: Liang-Ping
authors: LP
authors: Xia
authors: Bei
authors: B
authors: Zhang
authors: Wen-Qi
authors: WQ
authors: Jiang
authors: Mao-Zhen
authors: MZ
authors: Liu
authors: Pei-Li
authors: PL
authors: Hu
authors: Xu-Xian
authors: XX
authors: Chen
authors: Hui-Juan
authors: HJ
authors: Qiu
authors: Fei-Fei
authors: FF
authors: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000068818:Cetuximab; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D000077146:Irinotecan; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002166:Camptothecin