title: Ramucirumab for the treatment of gastric cancers, colorectal adenocarcinomas, and other gastrointestinal malignancies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of antiangiogenic strategy in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancers has been largely evidence-based. More recently, novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors have been studied in other gastrointestinal diseases. Ramucirumab, a recombinant monoclonal antibody that binds to VEGFR2 extracellular domain with a much greater affinity compared to its natural ligand, showed second-line effectiveness for patients with gastric or colorectal carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We perform a narrative literature review. The aims of our work are to recall the current evidence of its efficacy in the treatment of gastric, hepatocellular and colorectal cancers and to present the ongoing studies enrolling gastrointestinal cancer patients in which ramucirumab is being tested. Expert commentary: The landscape of angiogenesis-inhibition for the treatment of GI malignancies is rapidly evolving. The results of the REGARD and RAINBOW trials renewed the interest for antiangiogenic agents in gastric cancer and determined a swift change in the treating paradigm for this disease. Accordingly, ramucirumab was shown to be effective in pretreated colorectal cancer patients and it is being tested in other gastrointestinal malignancies.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical Oncology , University and General Hospital , Udine , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aprile
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical Oncology , University and General Hospital , Udine , Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: b Department of Oncology , Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana and Università di Pisa, Istituto Toscano Tumori , Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cremolini
authors.affiliation: c Department of Oncology , Istituto Oncologico Veneto , Padova , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bergamo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical Oncology , University and General Hospital , Udine , Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fontanella
authors.affiliation: c Department of Oncology , Istituto Oncologico Veneto , Padova , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Battaglin
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical Oncology , University and General Hospital , Udine , Italy.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rihawi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Oncology , Istituto Oncologico Veneto , Padova , Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lonardi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Oncology , Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana and Università di Pisa, Istituto Toscano Tumori , Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Fotios
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Loupakis
authors.affiliation: d Department of Oncology , University Hospital , Cagliari , Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scartozzi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000096662:Ramucirumab
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D000096662:Ramucirumab
keywords: Ramucirumab; VEGFR-2; angiogenesis; colorectal cancer; gastric cancer; translational research