Response to reintroduction of cetuximab in 5 patients with advanced, chemotherapy-resistant, colorectal cancer without progressive disease following first-line therapy with a cetuximab-containing regimen.

Author(s): Kaechele V, von Wichert G, Adler G, Seufferlein T

Affiliation(s): Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.

Publication date & source: 2008, Oncology., 74(3-4):123-6. Epub 2008 Aug 18.

Publication type:

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the response to cetuximab in advanced, chemotherapy-resistant, colorectal cancer following successful first-line therapy with the antibody. METHODS: Five patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were treated with a cetuximab-containing regimen after failure of several conventional chemotherapies. RESULTS: These patients had been successfully treated with cetuximab as first-line therapy, and the antibody was then discontinued without disease progression. No severe toxicities were observed upon reexposure to cetuximab. Partial response was noted in 1 patient and tumor stabilization in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Reintroduction of cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy is safe and efficacious in patients with colorectal cancer whose tumors were not refractory to a prior cetuximab-containing therapy. (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.