Panitumumab improves the treatment outcomes of patients with advanced colorectal cancer

This study investigated the effectiveness of panitumumab (Vectibix) in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Researchers suggested that this drug improved tumor response to the therapy.

CRC is one of the most common cancer worldwide. Chemotherapy such as FOLFOXIRI (leucovorin, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) and radiation therapy used to be the standard treatment. However, these therapies are only of limited effectiveness in advanced cases.

Immunotherapy (such as panitumumab) helps the immune system to attack and kill cancer cells. Prior studies showed that this drug added to standard treatment increases tumor response.

However, a study comparing FOLFOXIRI alone and with panitumumab had not yet been performed.

This study included information about 96 patients with metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) CRC. These patients were assigned to receive first-line FOLFOXIRI plus panitumumab (63; group 1) or FOLFOXIRI alone (33; group 2). Patients were followed up for an average of 44.2 to 63.3 months.

The response rate in group 1 was 87.3% compared to 60.6% in group 2. Patients from group 1 were 4.47 times more likely to have an improved response when compared to group 2. Progression-free survival (time from treatment to progression) was similar for both groups. However, patients in group 1 had a 33% improvement in the odds of better overall survival.

This study concluded that first-line chemotherapy combined with panitumumab improved tumor response rate in advanced CRC.

This study included mainly a younger population with a high rate of mutations. More studies are needed with a more diverse population. This study received support from Amgen, the manufacturer of panitumumab.