Treatment Information

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Rectal Cancer treatment details. Chemotherapy, Biologic therapy.

Hôpital Ambroise Paré, Boulogne Cedex, France.

Survival: monthsCountry:France
Toxiciy Grade:4City/State/Province:Boulogne Cedex
Treatments:Chemotherapy, Biologic therapyHospital:Hôpital Ambroise Paré
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Apr 2009

Description:

Patients:
This study involved 52 patients with EGFR-detectable metastatic colorectal cancer. The median age of the patients was 61 years, and 63.5% were male.

Treatment:
Patients were treated with a biologic therapy cetuximab, which is a monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor protein on cancer cells and inhibits cell growth. In addition, patients were given a combination of the chemotherapy agents irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and folinic acid (this combination is sometimes referred to as FOLFIRI).

Toxicities:
Grade 3 or 4 toxicities were reported for 65% of the patients, including leucopenia, rash, diarrhea, vomiting, and weakness.

Results:
The median overall survival was 22.4 months. The median progression-free survival was 7.9 months.

Support:
This study was partially supported by Merck KGaA, the makers of cetuximab (trade name Erbitux).

Correspondence: Dr. Philippe Rougier; email: [email protected]



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