XELOX combined with cetuximab is an effective treatment option for metastatic colorectal cancer

This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of the chemotherapy XELOX combined with cetuximab (Erbitux) as treatment for metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) colorectal cancer.

Researchers suggested that this combination was effective in these patients with manageable side effects.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Roughly 20% of colorectal cancer patients have metastasis (spread to other parts of the body) at the time of diagnosis. Chemotherapy is used in these patients to reduce symptoms and prolong survival. Chemotherapy drugs attack cancer cells, slowing down cancer progression.

XELOX chemotherapy combines capecitabine (Xeloda) and oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) and is an important treatment option after colorectal surgery. More recently, the addition of targeted therapies like cetuximab (Erbitux) have been examined. Cetuximab blocks tumor cell growth. Few studies have investigated the possible benefits of this combination. A prior study showed no additional benefit of the combined treatment when compared to XELOX alone. However, the XELOX dose in the combination group was reduced due to safety reasons, which may explain the absence of an additional benefit.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of the combined treatment XELOX and cetuximab to treat metastatic colorectal cancer.

This study included 40 patients who underwent treatment with the combination XELOX plus cetuximab. Tumors were evaluated before the initiation of treatment, 4 weeks after the initial treatment and at 4 to 8 weeks thereafter. Objective response rate (RR; clinical response of the tumor to the treatment), progression-free survival (PFS; time from treatment to disease progression), overall survival (OS; time from treatment to death from any cause), disease control rate (DCR; the percentage of patients who achieved complete or partial response) and safety were measured.  

In total, 5 patients showed significant tumor shrinkage after the treatment and 1 patient had a complete response. The RR was 50% and DCR was 82.5%.

Average PFS was 6.5 months and average OS was 24.3 months.

Acne was the most common moderate side effect (12.4% of patients), followed by numbness in the hands and feet (7.5%) and elevated blood levels of ALT (showing poorer function of the liver; 7.5%).

This study concluded that the combined treatment XELOX chemotherapy plus cetuximab was effective as a treatment option for metastatic colorectal cancer. The negative effects of the treatment were manageable.