C3 Submits Comments to the FDA’s Oncology Drug Advisory Committee

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Oncology Drug Advisory Committee (ODAC) is meeting today to discuss whether the labels for Erbitux (cetuximab) and Vectibix (panitumumab) should include a mention of KRAS testing. The discussion at the meeting will have implications for future development of companion diagnostics. C3 President Carlea Bauman will be testifying during the public comment section: Continue reading…

Posted by Joe Arite on December 16th, 2008
Posted in: C3 News, Policy & Advocacy News, Research & Treatment News | 1 Comment »
Tags: Erbitux, FDA, KRAS, ODAC, Vectibix

No Benefit with Erbitux in KRAS Mutated Tumors

Patients whose colorectal cancer tumors had a mutation in the KRAS gene had no benefit from treatment with Erbitux® (cetuximab).  They lived no longer after Erbitux treatment began than patients who had no Erbitux. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on October 23rd, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: Erbitux, KRAS, personalized medicine

Changes in Blood Magnesium Levels Predict Response to Erbitux

Hypomagnesemia, or reduced magnesium levels, is a side effect of Erbitux® (cetuximab) treatment.  Patients with colorectal cancer whose blood magnesium dropped the fastest also had the best response to Erbitux given with Camptosar® (irinotecan) .

Italian researchers measured magnesium levels for 68 patients before treatment began and then 6 hours, 1 7, 14, 21, 50, and 92 days later.  After the seventh day, readings decreased consistently.

Magnesium levels fell at least 20 percent for 25 patients by the third week.  More of these patients responded to treatment, they lived longer before their cancer got worse and had longer overall survival. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on July 6th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: colorectal cancer prognosis, Erbitux, personalized medicine

KRAS Mutation Status Predicts Response to Erbitux in Canadian Study

Another study has shown that colon or rectal cancer patients whose tumors have mutated KRAS don’t benefit from Erbitux® (cetuximab).  However, in the study when only patients with normal or wild-type KRAS were considered, survival time almost doubled after treatment with Erbitux began. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on July 1st, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 4 Comments »
Tags: Erbitux, KRAS, metastatic colorectal cancer, survival benefit