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