In a nutshell
This study explored whether cetuximab (erbitux) can benefit patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases. The ability to perform surgery to remove part or all of the tumor growth in the liver (the resection rate) was compared between patients receiving cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy, to those receiving chemotherapy alone.
Some background
Unresectable liver metastasis refers to a cancer that has spread to the liver and cannot be removed by surgery. Liver metastasis from colorectal cancer (CRC) is difficult to operate on in many cases, due to the location and magnitude of the tumors within the liver, and the common involvement of blood vessels. Chemotherapy and cetuximab may be used to shrink the tumors within the liver, and this might allow for surgery to be performed.
Cetuximab is a drug which attacks a structure on the surface of cancer cells responsible for cell division and growth.
This study involved only patients without KRAS gene mutations (wild type KRAS).
Methods & findings
The study involved 138 patients with liver metastasis from CRC. 70 patients were randomly assigned to receive cetuximab plus chemotherapy, while 68 were assigned to receive chemotherapy alone. 57.1 % of patients receiving cetuximab showed response to treatment, as opposed to 29.4% of patients receiving chemotherapy alone. In addition, 25.7% of patients receiving cetuximab were able to undergo liver metastases resection (surgery) after treatment. This compared to only 7.4% of patients treated with chemotherapy alone. After 3 years the survival rate in patients treated with cetuximab was 41%, compared to 18% of patients treated with chemotherapy alone.
The bottom line
The addition of cetuximab to chemotherapy in the treatment of unresectable colorectal liver metastases resulted in a higher rate of resection and prolonged survival than chemotherapy alone.
The fine print
This study involved only a small number of patients, and followed these only for a short period of time.
What’s next?
Consult with your physician about how cetuximab can benefit outcome in the case of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer.
Published By :
Journal of clinical oncology
Date :
Jul 01, 2013
