Showing papers on "Cetuximab published in 2019"
Barbara Burtness1, Kevin J. Harrington2, Richard Greil, Denis Soulières3 +202 more•Institutions (18)
TL;DR: A randomised, phase 3 study of participants with untreated locally incurable recurrent or metastatic HNSCC done at 200 sites in 37 countries finds that pembrolizumab alone improved overall survival and progression-free survival and cetuximab with chemotherapy improved Overall survival in the total population.
1,490 citations
University of California, San Diego1, Université de Montréal2, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University3, French Institute of Health and Medical Research4, Curie Institute5, Instituto Português de Oncologia Francisco Gentil6, University of Milan7, Samsung8, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc9, Université catholique de Louvain10, Fox Chase Cancer Center11, Yale University12, Merck & Co.13, Institute of Cancer Research14, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust15
TL;DR: The clinically meaningful prolongation of overall survival and favourable safety profile of pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma support the further evaluation of p embrolizUMab as a monotherapy and as part of combination therapy in earlier stages of disease.
984 citations
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center1, American College of Radiology2, University of Michigan3, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics4, Cleveland Clinic5, University of California, San Francisco6, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center7, Yale University8, Fox Chase Cancer Center9, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre10, University Hospitals of Cleveland11, Ohio State University12, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center13, Stanford University14, Emory University15, University of Louisville16, Kaiser Permanente17, University of Alabama at Birmingham18, University of Chicago19
TL;DR: After median follow-up duration of 4·5 years, radiotherapy plus cetuximab did not meet the non-inferiority criteria for overall survival, and patients were stratified by T category (T1-T2 vs T3-T4), N category (N0-N2a vs N2b-N3), Zubrod performance status (0 vs 1), and tobacco smoking history (≤10 pack-years).
822 citations
TL;DR: A combination of encorafenib, cetuximab, and binimetinib resulted in significantly longer overall survival and a higher response rate than standard therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with the BRAF V600E mutation.
Abstract: Background Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with the BRAF V600E mutation have a poor prognosis, with a median overall survival of 4 to 6 months after failure of initial therapy. ...
799 citations
University of Birmingham1, Newcastle University2, Weston Park Hospital3, University of Warwick4, Castle Hill Hospital5, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary6, Royal Surrey County Hospital7, Mount Sinai St. Luke's and Mount Sinai Roosevelt8, Cheltenham General Hospital9, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust10, James Cook University Hospital11, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board12, United Hospitals13, University Hospital Coventry14, Western General Hospital15, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre16, VU University Amsterdam17, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust18, University of Oxford19
TL;DR: Cisplatin and radiotherapy should be used as the standard of care for HPV-positive low-risk patients who are able to tolerate cisplatin, and cetuximab showed significant detriment in terms of tumour control.
661 citations
TL;DR: This is the first prospective demonstration that a rechallenge strategy with cetuximab and irinotecan may be active in patients with RAS and BRAF wild-type mCRC with acquired resistance to first-line irinOTecan- and cetUXimab-based therapy.
Abstract: Importance Based on a small retrospective study, rechallenge with cetuximab-based therapy for patients withKRASwild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who were previously treated with the same anti–epidermal growth factor receptor–based regimen might be efficacious. Recent data suggest the role of liquid biopsy as a tool to track molecular events in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Objective To prospectively assess the activity of cetuximab plus irinotecan as third-line treatment for patients withRASandBRAFwild-type mCRC who were initially sensitive to and then resistant to first-line irinotecan- and cetuximab-based therapy. Design, Setting, and Participants Multicenter phase 2 single-arm trial conducted from January 7, 2015, to June 19, 2017. Liquid biopsies for analysis of ctDNA were collected at baseline. Main eligibility criteria includedRASandBRAFwild-type status on tissue samples; prior first-line irinotecan- and cetuximab-based regimen with at least partial response, progression-free survival of at least 6 months with first-line therapy, and progression within 4 weeks after last dose of cetuximab; and prior second-line oxaliplatin- and bevacizumab-based treatment. Interventions Biweekly cetuximab, 500 mg/m2, plus irinotecan, 180 mg/m2. Main Outcomes and Measures Overall response rate according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1. Secondary end points included progression-free survival and overall survival and, as an exploratory analysis,RASmutations in ctDNA. Results Twenty-eight patients (9 women and 19 men; median age, 69 years [range, 45-79 years]) were enrolled. Six partial responses (4 confirmed) and 9 disease stabilizations were reported (response rate, 21%; 95% CI, 10%-40%; disease control rate, 54%; 95% CI, 36%-70%). Primary end point was met because lower limit of 95% CI of response rate was higher than 5%.RASmutations were found in ctDNA collected at rechallenge baseline in 12 of 25 evaluable patients (48%). NoRASmutations were detected in samples from patients who achieved confirmed partial response. Patients withRASwild-type ctDNA had significantly longer progression-free survival than those withRASmutated ctDNA (median progression-free survival, 4.0 vs 1.9 months; hazard ratio, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.18-0.98;P = .03). Conclusions and Relevance This is the first prospective demonstration that a rechallenge strategy with cetuximab and irinotecan may be active in patients withRASandBRAFwild-type mCRC with acquired resistance to first-line irinotecan- and cetuximab-based therapy. The evaluation ofRASmutational status on ctDNA might be helpful in selecting candidate patients. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT02296203
246 citations
TL;DR: Current treatment approaches and optimal treatment sequencing across the first-, second- and third-line settings in mCRC are reviewed, including biological aspects affecting sequencing and rechallenge.
182 citations
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven1, Netherlands Cancer Institute2, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center3, Autonomous University of Barcelona4, City of Hope National Medical Center5, Pompeu Fabra University6, Imperial College London7, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre8, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli9, Utrecht University10, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center11
TL;DR: In the safety lead-in, the safety and tolerability of the encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab regimen is manageable and acceptable for initiation of the randomized portion of the BEACON Colorectal Cancer trial.
Abstract: PURPOSETo determine the safety and preliminary efficacy of selective combination targeted therapy for BRAF V600E–mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in the safety lead-in phase of the open-l...
168 citations
TL;DR: This genomic and transcriptomic analysis of the cetuximab resistance landscape in 35 RAS wild-type CRCs identified associations of NF1 and non-canonical RAS/RAF aberrations with primary resistance and validated transcriptomic CRC subtypes as non-genetic predictors of benefit.
157 citations
University of Pittsburgh1, University of Milan2, Institut Gustave Roussy3, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center4, Institute of Cancer Research5, University of Chicago6, Emory University7, Harvard University8, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust9, Stanford University10, Bristol-Myers Squibb11
TL;DR: Nivolumab appeared to improve efficacy versus IC regardless of prior cetuximab use, supporting its use in patients with R/M SCCHN with or without prior cetusimab exposure.
Abstract: Purpose: Cetuximab, which modulates immune responses, may affect the efficacy of subsequent immunotherapy. Here, we assessed outcomes with nivolumab, by prior cetuximab exposure, in patients with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) who had experienced progression within 6 months of platinum-containing chemotherapy. Experimental Design: In the randomized, open-label, phase III CheckMate 141 trial, patients were randomized 2:1 to nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks or investigator9s choice (IC) of single-agent chemotherapy, with stratification by prior cetuximab exposure. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS); additional endpoints were progression-free survival, objective response rate, and safety. Results: In patients with prior cetuximab exposure, the median OS was 7.1 months with nivolumab versus 5.1 months with IC (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.62-1.15); OS benefit with nivolumab was maintained across most demographic subgroups. In patients without prior cetuximab exposure, the median OS was 8.2 months with nivolumab versus 4.9 months with IC (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.35-0.77); OS benefit with nivolumab was maintained across patient baseline subgroups including tumor programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression (
103 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that cetuximab and panitumumab are distinct therapeutic agents that should be considered individually during treatment planning and may provide a rationale for this antibody as a combination partner with investigational chemotherapy plus immunotherapy regimens for colorectal cancer.
Abstract: Cetuximab and panitumumab are two distinct monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and both are widely used in combination with chemotherapy or as monotherapy to treat patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. Although often considered interchangeable, the two antibodies have different molecular structures and can behave differently in clinically relevant ways. More specifically, as an immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 isotype mAb, cetuximab can elicit immune functions such as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity involving natural killer cells, T-cell recruitment to the tumor, and T-cell priming via dendritic cell maturation. Panitumumab, an IgG2 isotype mAb, does not possess these immune functions. Furthermore, the two antibodies have different binding sites on the EGFR, as evidenced by mutations on the extracellular domain that can confer resistance to one of the two therapeutics or to both. We consider a comparison of the properties of these two antibodies to represent a gap in the literature. We therefore compiled a detailed, evidence-based educational review of the known molecular, clinical, and functional differences between the two antibodies and concluded that they are distinct therapeutic agents that should be considered individually during treatment planning. Available data for one agent can only partly be extrapolated to the other. Looking to the future, the known immune activity of cetuximab may provide a rationale for this antibody as a combination partner with investigational chemotherapy plus immunotherapy regimens for colorectal cancer.
TL;DR: The results support the potential role of exosomes as a non-invasive tumor and immune cell biomarkers in cancer.
Abstract: Purpose: Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from the endocytic compartment of their parent cells, are present in plasma of cancer patients and may serve as non-invasive biomarkers...
TL;DR: In patients with platinum-resistant or cetuximab-resistant HPV-unrelated HNSCC, palbociclib and cetUXimab results in promising activity outcomes, and further studies of CDK4/6 inhibitors are warranted in HPV- unrelated H NSCC.
Abstract: Summary Background Most head and neck squamous-cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are driven by p16INK4A inactivation and cyclin D1 overexpression that results in hyperactivation of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6), rather than by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Deregulated cyclin D1 expression also causes resistance to EGFR inhibitors. We previously reported that palbociclib (a selective CDK4/6 inhibitor) given with cetuximab (an EGFR inhibitor) was safe. The aim of this study was to establish the proportion of patients achieving an objective response with palbociclib and cetuximab in recurrent or metastatic HNSCC. Methods We did a multicentre, multigroup, phase 2 trial to evaluate the activity of palbociclib and cetuximab in platinum-resistant (group 1) and cetuximab-resistant (group 2) HPV-unrelated HNSCC. The study was done across eight university sites in the USA. Eligibility required measurable disease (according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1·1 [RECIST 1·1]), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0–2, age of 18 years or older, and disease progression on platinum but cetuximab-naive (group 1) or disease progression on cetuximab (group 2). All patients received palbociclib orally (125 mg/day, on days 1–21) and intravenous cetuximab (400 mg/m2 on cycle one, day 1, then 250 mg/m2 once per week) in 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint was objective response (complete responses and partial responses per RECIST 1·1). Analyses were done per protocol. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02101034, and is ongoing, but both groups are closed to accrual. Findings Between Oct 19, 2015, and Nov 7, 2018, 62 patients were enrolled onto the trial: 30 patients were enrolled in group 1 and 32 in group 2. Median follow-up was 5·4 months (IQR 4·4–12·1) for group 1 and 5·5 months (4·3–8·3) for group 2. In group 1, of 28 evaluable patients, an objective response was achieved by 11 (39%; 95% CI 22–59). In group 2, of 27 evaluable patients, an objective response was achieved by five (19%; 6–38) in group 2. The most common grade 3–4 palbociclib-related adverse event was neutropenia (in 21 [34%] of 62 patients). No treatment-related deaths occurred. Interpretation In patients with platinum-resistant or cetuximab-resistant HPV-unrelated HNSCC, palbociclib and cetuximab results in promising activity outcomes. Further studies of CDK4/6 inhibitors are warranted in HPV-unrelated HNSCC. Funding Pfizer.
TL;DR: How conventional and targeted therapies may directly modulate the immune system and the tumor microenvironment to better understand the effects and combinatorial potential of these therapies in the context and era of immunotherapy is focused on.
Abstract: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) accounts for more than 600,000 cases and 380,000 deaths annually worldwide. Although human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated HNSCCs have better overall survival compared with HPV-negative HNSCC, loco-regional recurrence remains a significant cause of mortality and additional combinatorial strategies are needed to improve outcomes. The primary conventional therapies to treat HNSCC are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapies; however, multiple other targeted systemic options are used and being tested including cetuximab, bevacizumab, mTOR inhibitors, and metformin. In 2016, the first checkpoint blockade immunotherapy was approved for recurrent or metastatic HNSCC refractory to platinum-based chemotherapy. This immunotherapy approval confirmed the critical importance of the immune system and immunomodulation in HNSCC pathogenesis, response to treatment, and disease control. However, although immuno-oncology agents are rapidly expanding, the role that the immune system plays in the mechanism of action and clinical efficacy of standard conventional therapies is likely underappreciated. In this article, we focus on how conventional and targeted therapies may directly modulate the immune system and the tumor microenvironment to better understand the effects and combinatorial potential of these therapies in the context and era of immunotherapy.
TL;DR: A nanocomposite by targeting on the EGFR of TNBC to enhance therapeutic efficacy by ND-conjugated PTX and Cet (ND-PTX-Cet) is designed, which can provide a feasible strategy for TNBC therapy.
TL;DR: Using the rationale that BRAF inhibitor monotherapy fails due to feedback activation of the EGFR pathway, BRAF inhibitors have been combined with anti-EGFR agents plus or minus MEK inhibitors; however, the results did not live up to the hopes raised by the concept.
Abstract: Over the past two decades, the molecular characterization of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has been revolutionized by the routine implementation of RAS and BRAF tests. As a result, it is now known that patients with mCRC harboring BRAF mutations experience a poor prognosis. Although it accounts for only 10% of mCRC, this group is heterogeneous; only the BRAF-V600E mutation, also observed in melanoma, is associated with a very poor prognosis. In terms of treatment, these patients do not benefit from therapeutics targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In first-line chemotherapy, there are two main options; the first one is to use a triple chemotherapy combination of 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin, with the addition of bevacizumab, because post hoc analysis of randomized trials have reported interesting results. The other option is to use double chemotherapy plus bevacizumab, since anti-EGFR seems to have modest activity in these patients. Only a small percentage of patients who experience failure of this first-line treatment receive second-line treatment. Monotherapy with BRAF inhibitors has failed in this setting, and different combinations have also been tested. Using the rationale that BRAF inhibitor monotherapy fails due to feedback activation of the EGFR pathway, BRAF inhibitors have been combined with anti-EGFR agents plus or minus MEK inhibitors; however, the results did not live up to the hopes raised by the concept. To date, the best results in second-line treatment have been obtained with a combination of vemurafenib, cetuximab, and irinotecan. Despite these advances, further improvements are needed.
TL;DR: The accumulated evidence on the role of cetuximab in HNSCC is reviewed, offering an overview of its current impact in the treatment of LA and R/M-HNSCC disease and its potential use in the era of immunotherapy.
Abstract: Cetuximab remains to date the only targeted therapy approved for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The EGFR pathway plays a key role in the tumorigenesis and progression of this disease as well as in the resistance to radiotherapy (RT). While several anti-EGFR agents have been tested in HNSCC, cetuximab, an IgG1 subclass monoclonal antibody against EGFR, is the only drug with proven efficacy for the treatment of both locoregionally-advanced (LA) and recurrent/metastatic (R/M) disease. The addition of cetuximab to radiotherapy is a validated treatment option in LA-HNSCC. However, its use has been limited to patients who are considered unfit for standard of care chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with single agent cisplatin given the lack of direct comparison of these two regimens in randomized phase III trials and the inferiority suggested by metanalysis and phase II studies. The current use of cetuximab in HNSCC is about to change given the recent results from randomized prospective clinical trials in both the LA and R/M setting. Two phase III studies evaluating RT-cetuximab vs. CRT in Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-positive LA oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (De-ESCALaTE and RTOG 1016) showed inferior overall survival and progression-free survival for RT-cetuximab combination, and therefore CRT with cisplatin remains the standard of care in this disease. In the R/M HNSCC, the EXTREME regimen has been the standard of care as first-line treatment for the past 10 years. However, the results from the KEYNOTE-048 study will likely position the anti-PD-1 agent pembrolizumab as the new first line treatment either alone or in combination with chemotherapy in this setting based on PD-L1 status. Interestingly, cetuximab-mediated immunogenicity through antibody dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) has encouraged the evaluation of combined approaches with immune-checkpoint inhibitors in both LA and R/M-HNSCC settings. This article reviews the accumulated evidence on the role of cetuximab in HNSCC in the past decade, offering an overview of its current impact in the treatment of LA and R/M-HNSCC disease and its potential use in the era of immunotherapy.
TL;DR: Novel genomic alterations are uncovered that elucidate the mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in metastatic CRC patients and show that PI3K/mTOR inhibition could rescue cetuximab resistance.
Abstract: Anti-EGFR antibodies are effective in therapies for late-stage colorectal cancer (CRC); however, many tumours are unresponsive or develop resistance. We performed genomic analysis of intrinsic and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in prospectively collected tumour samples from 25 CRC patients receiving cetuximab (an EGFR inhibitor). Of 25 CRC patients, 13 displayed intrinsic resistance to cetuximab; 12 were intrinsically sensitive. We obtained six re-biopsy samples at acquired resistance from the intrinsically sensitive patients. NCOA4–RET and LMNA–NTRK1 fusions and NRG1 and GNAS amplifications were found in intrinsic-resistant patients. In cetuximab-sensitive patients, we found KRAS K117N and A146T mutations in addition to BRAF V600E, AKT1 E17K, PIK3CA E542K, and FGFR1 or ERBB2 amplifications. The comparison between baseline and acquired-resistant tumours revealed an extreme shift in variant allele frequency of somatic variants, suggesting that cetuximab exposure dramatically selected for rare resistant subclones that were initially undetectable. There was also an increase in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition at acquired resistance, with a reduction in the immune infiltrate. Furthermore, characterization of an acquired-resistant, patient-derived cell line showed that PI3K/mTOR inhibition could rescue cetuximab resistance. Thus, we uncovered novel genomic alterations that elucidate the mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in metastatic CRC patients.
TL;DR: The mechanisms of tumor cell resistance to mAb therapies and the role of miRNAs therein are reviewed and emerging treatment strategies combine therapies using innovative miRNA mimics or antagonizers with conventional approaches to maximize outcomes of patients with cancer.
Abstract: Development of drug resistance has considerably limited the efficacy of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Hence, understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning the innate or the acquired resistance to these therapies is critical to improve drug efficiency and clinical outcomes. Several studies have implicated microRNAs (miRNA) in this process. MiRNAs repress gene expression by specific binding to complementary sequences in the 3' region of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), followed by target mRNA degradation or blocked translation. By targeting molecules specific to a particular pathway within tumor cells, the new generation of cancer treatment strategies has shown significant advantages over conventional chemotherapy. However, the long-term efficacy of targeted therapies often remains poor, because tumor cells develop resistance to such therapeutics. Targeted therapies often involve monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), such as those blocking the ErB/HER tyrosine kinases, epidermal growth factor receptor (cetuximab) and HER2 (trastuzumab), and those inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling (e.g., bevacizumab). Even though these are among the most used agents in tumor medicine, clinical response to these drugs is reduced due to the emergence of drug resistance as a result of toxic effects in the tumor microenvironment. Research on different types of human cancers has revealed that aberrant expression of miRNAs promotes resistance to the aforementioned drugs. In this study, we review the mechanisms of tumor cell resistance to mAb therapies and the role of miRNAs therein. Emerging treatment strategies combine therapies using innovative miRNA mimics or antagonizers with conventional approaches to maximize outcomes of patients with cancer.
TL;DR: The results of the PRODIGE18 (Partenariat de Recherche en Oncologie DIGEstive) study showed a nonsignificant difference but favored continuation of bevacizumab with chemotherapy crossover for patients with wild-type RAS metastatic colorectal cancer that progressed with first-line bevacsumab plus chemotherapy.
Abstract: Importance Second-line treatment with chemotherapy plus bevacizumab or cetuximab is a valid option for metastatic colorectal cancer. Objective To evaluate the progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 4 months with chemotherapy plus bevacizumab vs cetuximab for patients with progression of metastatic colorectal cancer after bevacizumab plus chemotherapy. Design, Setting, and Participants A prospective, open-label, multicenter, randomized phase 2 trial was conducted from December 14, 2010, to May 5, 2015. The main eligibility criterion was disease progression after bevacizumab plus fluorouracil with irinotecan or oxaliplatin in patients with wild-typeKRASexon 2 metastatic colorectal cancer. All analyses were performed on the modified intent-to-treat population. Interventions Patients were randomized to arm A (FOLFIRI [fluorouracil and folinic acid combined with irinotecan] or modified FOLFOX6 [fluorouracil and folinic acid combined with oxaliplatin] plus bevacizumab) or arm B (FOLFIRI or modified FOLFOX6 plus cetuximab); the second-line chemotherapy regimen was chosen according to first-line treatment (crossover). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was the 4-month PFS rate. Secondary end points included safety, objective response rate, overall survival, and PFS. Results A total of 132 patients (47 women and 85 men; median age, 63.0 years [range, 33.0-84.0 years]; 74 patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0, 54 patients with a performance status of 1, and 4 patients with unknown performance status) were included at 25 sites. The 4-month PFS rate was 80.3% (95% CI, 68.0%-88.3%) in arm A and 66.7% (95% CI, 53.6%-76.8%) in arm B. The median PFS was 7.1 months (95% CI, 5.7-8.2 months) in arm A and 5.6 months (95% CI, 4.2-6.5 months) in arm B (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.50-1.02;P = .06), and the median overall survival was 15.8 months (95% CI, 9.5-22.3 months) in arm A and 10.4 months (95% CI, 7.0-16.2 months) in arm B (hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.46-1.04;P = .08). A central analysis ofKRAS(exons 2, 3, and 4),NRAS(exons 2, 3, and 4), andBRAF(V600) was performed for 95 tumor samples. Eighty-one patients had wild-typeKRASand wild-typeNRAStumors. Conclusions and Relevance The results of the PRODIGE18 (Partenariat de Recherche en Oncologie DIGEstive) study showed a nonsignificant difference but favored continuation of bevacizumab with chemotherapy crossover for patients with wild-typeRASmetastatic colorectal cancer that progressed with first-line bevacizumab plus chemotherapy. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT01442649and clinicaltrialsregister.eu identifier:EUDRACT 2009-012942-22
TL;DR: The cell cycle analysis indicated that Cet- MCPCNPs induced cell death in enhanced percentage of Caco-2 cells by undergoing cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, suggesting that CET-MCPCNps represent a new and promising targeting approach for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
TL;DR: PI3K activation plays a central role in the acquired resistance to the combination of anti-EGFR and MEK-inhibitor in KRAS mutated colorectal cancer cell lines.
Abstract: Previous studies showed that the combination of an anti-Epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and a MEK-inhibitor is able to prevent the onset of resistance to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies in KRAS-wild type colorectal cancer (CRC), while the same combination reverts anti-EGFR primary resistance in KRAS mutated CRC cell lines. However, rapid onset of resistance is a limit to combination therapies in KRAS mutated CRC. We generated four different KRAS mutated CRC cell lines resistant to a combination of cetuximab (an anti-EGFR antibody) and refametinib (a selective MEK-inhibitor) after continuous exposure to increasing concentration of the drugs. We characterized these resistant cell lines by evaluating the expression and activation status of a panel of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and intracellular transducers by immunoblot and qRT-PCR. Oncomine comprehensive assay and microarray analysis were carried out to investigate new acquired mutations or transcriptomic adaptation, respectively, in the resistant cell lines. Immunofluorescence assay was used to show the localization of RTKs in resistant and parental clones. We found that PI3K-AKT pathway activation acts as an escape mechanism in cell lines with acquired resistance to combined inhibition of EGFR and MEK. AKT pathway activation is coupled to the activation of multiple RTKs such as HER2, HER3 and IGF1R, though its pharmacological inhibition is not sufficient to revert the resistant phenotype. PI3K pathway activation is mediated by autocrine loops and by heterodimerization of multiple receptors. PI3K activation plays a central role in the acquired resistance to the combination of anti-EGFR and MEK-inhibitor in KRAS mutated colorectal cancer cell lines. PI3K activation is cooperatively achieved through the activation of multiple RTKs such as HER2, HER3 and IGF1R.
TL;DR: The available data on efficacy and toxicity of the combination regimen approved for treatment of resected colon cancer are presented, and the questions of when, how and how long the authors need to treat such patients are discussed.
Abstract: The benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy has been clearly established in the adjuvant setting for node-positive colon cancer. A number of trials in the adjuvant setting have analyzed the efficacy of multiple-agent combinations, including irinotecan, oxaliplatin, bevacizumab and cetuximab. Only oxaliplatin added to fluorouracil/capecitabine has been shown to be superior beyond a fluropyrimidine alone in the adjuvant setting. As such, standard treatment options include fluorouracil (FU) or capecitabine with or without oxaliplatin. However, oxaliplatin is associated with cumulative dose-dependent neurotoxicity, characterized by distal or perioral paresthesias or dysesthesias; for this reason, in this review we discuss the results of the International Duration Evaluation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy (IDEA) trial. The IDEA trail is the largest prospective clinical trial ever conducted in colorectal cancer, wherein patients were treated with either 3 months or 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy. In the era of cancer gene expression-based subtyping, the Colorectal Cancer Subtyping Consortium has proposed a four-subgroup molecular classification system for colorectal cancer, consisting of CMS1 (immune), CMS2 (canonical), CMS3 (metabolic) and CMS4 (mesenchymal). In this review, we present and analyze the available data on efficacy and toxicity of the combination regimen approved for treatment of resected colon cancer, and discuss the questions of when, how and how long we need to treat such patients.
TL;DR: There is little data about a less toxic regimen of IC, but several schemes are promising and need to be developed, and an early selection of responders to IC by metabolic imaging must be considered.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that Dox-NPs-Cet could serve as a promising candidate for targeted therapy of NSCLC, due to their efficient targeting and the resulting increased cytotoxicity on tumor cells.
TL;DR: EPHA2 levels are significantly associated with worse outcome in patients treated with FOLFIRI + cetuximab, and a specific EPHA2 inhibitor reverts in vitro and in vivo primary and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR therapy.
Abstract: The EPHA2 tyrosine kinase receptor is implicated in tumor progression and targeted therapies resistance. We evaluated EPHA2 as a potential resistance marker to the antiepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody cetuximab in colorectal cancer. We studied activation of EPHA2 in a panel of human colorectal cancer cell lines sensitive or resistant to anti-EGFR drugs. The in vitro and in vivo effects of ALW-II-41-27 (an EPHA2 inhibitor) and/or cetuximab treatment were tested. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 82 RAS wild-type (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with FOLFIRI + cetuximab as first-line therapy in the CAPRI-GOIM trial were assessed for EPHA2 expression by immunohistochemistry and correlated with treatment efficacy. EPHA2 was differentially activated in colorectal cancer cell lines. Combined treatment with ALW-II-41-27 plus cetuximab reverted primary and acquired resistance to cetuximab, causing cell growth inhibition, inducing apoptosis and cell-cycle G1-G2 arrest. In tumor xenograft models, upon progression to cetuximab, ALW-II-41-27 addition significantly inhibited tumor growth. EPHA2 protein expression was detected in 55 of 82 tumor samples, frequently expressed in less-differentiated and left-sided tumors. High levels of EPHA2 significantly correlated with worse progression-free survival [8.6 months; confidence interval (CI) 95%, 6.4-10.8; vs. 12.3 months; CI 95%, 10.4-14.2; P = 0.03] and with increased progression rate (29% vs. 9%, P = 0.02). A specific EPHA2 inhibitor reverts in vitro and in vivo primary and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR therapy. EPHA2 levels are significantly associated with worse outcome in patients treated with FOLFIRI + cetuximab. These results highlight EPHA2 as a potential therapeutic target in metastatic colorectal cancer.
TL;DR: The clinical and biological evolution and development of EGFR targeted therapies in mCRC, the challenges in the presence of molecular complexities, the role of cell free (cf)-DNA and future strategies that could lead to further optimal discovery of clinically meaningful biomarkers and application of precision medicine are described.
Abstract: Despite significant progress in management of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) pertaining to better screening procedures and amelioration of the therapeutic armamentarium with targeted therapies, prognosis remains poor. Targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been of particular interest owing to favourable efficacy benefits demonstrated by monoclonal antibodies (cetuximab and panitumumab) in various clinical settings and development of predictive biomarkers informing treatment decisions respectively. In spite of optimal patient selection based on RAS mutation status, primary and secondary resistance to monoclonal antibodies is higher than desired. Further research into predictive biomarkers is therefore essential, but has, to date, been conducted with considerable limitations. Whilst molecular heterogeneity has been demonstrated by several studies in mCRC, for incomprehensible reasons, multiple resistant genetic alterations that emerge under the selective pressure of EGFR-targeted therapies are somehow able to influence the biological and clinical behaviour of cancer cells, despite being detectable at extremely low frequencies. Intriguingly, these subclonal events largely seem to converge on RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway in patients treated with EGFR-targeted monoclonal antibodies. This review describes the clinical and biological evolution and development of EGFR targeted therapies in mCRC, the challenges in the presence of molecular complexities, the role of cell free (cf)-DNA and future strategies that could lead to further optimal discovery of clinically meaningful biomarkers and application of precision medicine.
TL;DR: The therapeutic sequence of regorafenib followed by cetuximab suggests a longer OS than the current standard sequence, which was successful in 86% patients in both arms and the quality of life scores during the entire treatment period was not significantly different between the two arms.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that C-siPLK1-NP is effective as a targeted therapy and as a potent radiation sensitizer for NSCLC and potential application to other EGFR+ cancer types such as colorectal and breast cancer is also demonstrated.
TL;DR: The role of PTEN as a predictive factor and possible therapeutic target in CRC is summarized, focusing on ongoing studies and the possible implications in clinical practice.
Abstract: Molecular assessment of colorectal cancer (CRC) is receiving growing attention, beyond RAS and BRAF, because of its influence on prognosis and prediction in cancer treatment. PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue), a tumor suppressor, regulating cell division and apoptosis, has been explored, and significant evidence suggests a role in cetuximab and panitumumab resistance linked to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signal transduction pathway. Factors influencing PTEN activity should be analyzed to develop strategies to maximize the tumor suppressor role and to improve tumor response to cancer treatment. Therefore, an in-depth knowledge of the PI3K-Akt pathway-one of the major cancer survival pathways-and the role of PTEN-a major brake of this pathway-is essential in the era of precision medicine. The purpose of this literature review is to summarize the role of PTEN as a predictive factor and possible therapeutic target in CRC, focusing on ongoing studies and the possible implications in clinical practice.