Retrospective Analysis of Patients Treated with Cetuximab plus FOLFIRI for Previous Irinotecan-combined Chemotherapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Many reports about efficacy of cetuximab in the prolongation of survival have been published. Especially, the combination of cetuximab and FOLFIRI has a high activity even in prior irinotecan refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Beside small number of patients, we are trying to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cetuximab combined with FOLFIRI for patients who prior irinotecan chemotherapy had failed. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 26 patients treated with cetuximab with FOLFIRI from July 2006 to August 2007 was done. All patients had already been treated with FOLFIRI chemotherapy in 1st line or 2nd line regimens for mCRC. The initial dose of cetuximab was 400 mg/m2 at the 1st week, after which the dose was 250 mg/m2 weekly plus FOLFIRI biweekly. We defined 1 cycle as 8 weeks, and the responses were evaluated at week 8. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 6.2 (1.1~13.9) months. After 8 weeks, 50% of the patients had a partial response, and the disease control rate was 57.5%. The median time to progression was 3 months. EGFR expression and tumor response had no correlation (P=0.07). Skin reaction and tumor response (median time to progression) had a significant correlation (P= 0.022). Cetuximab did not increase the toxicity associated with FOLFIRI, except for an acneiform rash. CONCLUSIONS: Cetuximab combined with FOLFIRI chemotherapy was effective in treating mCRC patients after FOLFIRI regimen chemotherapy.