[Two cases of KRAS wild-type unresectable or recurrent colorectal cancer effectively treated by cetuximab after progression of prior chemotherapy]

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2009 Jun;36(6):1003-6.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Cetuximab, an anti-EGFR human/mouse chimeric antibody, has just been approved in Japan for patients with EGFR positive unresectable or recurrent colorectal cancer, as monotherapy or in combination with irinotecan. We reported two cases of unresectable or recurrent colorectal cancer effectively treated by cetuximab after the progression of the prior chemotherapy. Case 1: A51-year-old male suffered from sigmoid colon cancer with synchronous liver metastases. He received cetuximab plus irinotecan combination therapy in the third-line setting. Amonth after the initiation of the chemotherapy, abdominal CT showed tumor shrinkage of liver metastases. Case 2: A57-year-old female suffered from sigmoid colon cancer with metachronous liver, ovarian metastases, ascites and pleural effusion. Her performance status(PS)according to ECOG performance scale was 1, and she complained of dyspnea on exertion. She received cetuximab monotherapy in the fourth-line setting. Five weeks after initiation of chemotherapy, her chest, abdominal and pelvic CT showed tumor shrinkage of the liver metastases and the reduction of both ascites and pleural effusion, together with resolution of her dyspnea on exertion. Before cetuximab administration, we investigated KRAS status on cancer tissue previously resected in the above 2 cases, which showed KRAS wild-type. Cetuximab could be effective for KRAS wild-type colorectal cancer, as well as the previous reports from Western countries.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage
  • Camptothecin / administration & dosage
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives
  • Cetuximab
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Irinotecan
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • ras Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • KRAS protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Irinotecan
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • ras Proteins
  • Cetuximab
  • Camptothecin