This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: theoncologist.2008-0202v1 14/5/478    most recent eLetters: Submit a response to this article Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints/Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Köhne, C.-H. Articles by Lenz, H.-J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Köhne, C.-H. Articles by Lenz, H.-J.

Chemotherapy with Targeted Agents for the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

^aKlinik für Onkologie/Hämatologie, Klinikum Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany; ^bKeck School of Medicine, University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

Key Words. Bevacizumab • Cetuximab • Colorectal cancer • Irinotecan • Panitumumab

Correspondence: Correspondence: Claus-Henning Köhne, M.D., Klinik für Onkologie/Hämatologie, Klinikum Oldenburg, Dr.-Eden-Str. 10, 26133 Oldenburg, Germany. Telephone: 49-441-403-2611; Fax: 49-441-403-2654; e-mail: onkologie{at}klinikum-oldenburg.de

Received September 9, 2008; accepted for publication March 25, 2009.

The introduction of novel agents targeted to specific molecular features of cancer cells promises more options and marked improvements in efficacy for treatment of colon cancer. This overview of clinical studies describes the effects of administering the targeted agents bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab, also known as monoclonal antibodies, to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. All three targeted agents have been approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products. Bevacizumab has been shown to extend survival when used in combination with irinotecan and 5-fluorouracil–based chemotherapy, and the addition of cetuximab to irinotecan and 5-fluorouracil–based chemotherapy overcomes irinotecan resistance. Cetuximab and panitumumab are both efficacious among refractory mCRC patients with wild-type KRAS tumors. Other targeted agents, for example, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors erlotinib, gefitinib, sunitinib, and vatalanib (PTK787/ZK 222584), are currently in various stages of clinical development.