Triple-drug chemotherapy regimens in combination with an anti-EGFR agent in metastatic colorectal cancer - prospects from phase II clinical trials.

We describe the overall safety and tolerability profiles based on a literature review of all published phase I and II clinical trials in this setting. Drug exposure, tumour mutational status and metastases resectability are discussed. A review of pubmed and abstracts of major oncology congresses from 2009 to 2018, with MeSH and full-text search terms for clinical trials of anti-EGFR for "metastatic" or "advanced" "colorectal cancer/adenocarcinoma" was implemented. Only English language publications were included. Expert opinion: Efficacy data from phase II trials are promising, but the safety profiles are not as encouraging; the development of severe diarrhoea and acneiform rash limit the drug exposure that is critical for improved outcomes. Phase II studies of these triplet chemotherapy/anti-EGFR mAb combinations have focused on conversion therapy in liver-limited disease or in the first-line setting in advanced disease. The identification of biomarkers of response and toxicity may support the use of personalized medicine and more precise design of phase III trials. PMID: 30905200 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Expert Opin Investig Drugs Source Type: research