A case of panitumumab-responsive metastatic rectal cancer initially refractory to cetuximab

Case Rep Oncol. 2013 Jul 20;6(2):382-6. doi: 10.1159/000353781. Print 2013 May.

Abstract

A 64-year-old man was initially diagnosed with rectal cancer and liver metastasis. He underwent rectal amputation and partial hepatectomy. mFOLFOX6 was begun as first-line chemotherapy, but multiple pulmonary and right femoral lymph node metastases were found 1 year postoperatively. FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab was then started, but the tumors recurred after 2 years and 11 months. The regimen was changed to cetuximab with CPT-11. The lesions partially responded after 3 months, and the patient was free from progression for 1.5 years. Four years and 7 months after the adjuvant chemotherapy was started, the metastatic lesions gradually increased again, and the regimen was changed to panitumumab. After 2 months, the lesions had markedly decreased again and showed a partial response for 6 months. Although the pulmonary lesions became progressive again, the patient has been alive for 5 years and 8 months since the first operation.

Keywords: Cetuximab-resistant rectal cancer; Epidermal growth factor receptor mutation; Panitumumab.

Publication types

  • Case Reports