title: Anti-EGFR (cetuximab) combined with irinotecan for treatment of elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to test the efficacy and toxicity of cetuximab and irinotecan as a biweekly regimen in treatment of elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine elderly patients (≥65 years) with mCRC who progressed after at least one previous line of treatment were enrolled into this study from May 2008 to January 2011. All recruited patients received cetuximab 500 mg/m(2) and irinotecan 180 mg/m(2) every 2 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven patients (76 %) were men, and 76 % of patients had colonic cancer in origin. Median age was 69 years. Median overall survival time was 7 months, and median progression-free survival was 4 months. Grade 3-4 skin rash occurred in 20 % of patients, grade 3-4 diarrhea in 18 % of patients, and neutropenia in 28 % of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cetuximab combined with irinotecan when administered biweekly is safe and effective for treatment of pretreated elderly patients with mCRC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Ain Shams University, 17 Abbas Akkad street extension, Nasr City, Cairo, 11371, Egypt. sherifok69@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdelwahab
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azmy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdel-Aziz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salim
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001247:Asthenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000068818:Cetuximab; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000077146:Irinotecan; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002166:Camptothecin