While Erbitux® (cetuximab) can shrink tumors and increase the time before cancer gets worse for some patients whose colon cancer has spread, not all people respond to it. French scientists have found that patients with a KRAS mutation in their tumor were very unlikely to show any tumor shrinkage when they are treated with Erbitux. In addition, the time before their disease progressed was significantly shorter.
KRAS is a gene that signals proteins to encourage cell growth. Mutations in KRAS are associated with some, but not all, colorectal cancers.
Studying 59 patients who were treated with cetuximab and chemotherapy, the researchers found that 22 had a KRAS mutation in their tumor. None of these KRAS-positive patients responded to treatment. On the other hand, all 12 patients who did respond did not have KRAS identified.
Time to disease progression for those with KRAS was 3 months compared to 5.5 months for patients without the mutation.
Patients studied were being treated with cetuximab and chemotherapy after progressing on standard chemotherapy.
Dr. Frederic Di Fiore led the group of researchers in Rouen in analyzing the tumors and patient outcomes.
SOURCE: Di Fiore et.al. British Journal of Cancer, advance online publication, 20 March 2007.
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