Fortnightly cetuximab an
option for colon cancer
Patients could be spared the necessity of making weekly journeys to
oncology units for cetuximab (Erbitux), a targeted treatment for
metastatic colorectal cancer, according to a new study that shows fortnightly
infusions with a higher dose are equally safe and effective.
Cetuximab, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor,
is currently recommended for weekly maintenance therapy as
250mg/m2 infused over one hour at a maximum infusion rate of
5ml/minute for six to seven weeks following an initial two-hour intravenous
loading dose of 400mg/m2.
Oncologists from Spain and Italy compared the safety and efficacy of
the standard weekly administration against a higher dose
(400–700mg/m2) given fortnightly for six weeks in an open-label study.
Data on the initial part of the study, including results concerning
the first 29 patients tested after receiving cetuximab alone for sixweeks,
were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology
annual
meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, last month.
Results show no major difference between the two regimens in
EGFR-signalling inhibition. Pharmacokinetic parameters and trough
concentrations are comparable for the two regimens. Area-under-thecurve
values at two weeks after a 400mg/m2 or 500mg/m2 dose were
approximately 80 per cent of the values achieved by two weeks of standard
weekly dosing and no difference was noted between regimens
with regard to the number or severity of adverse events.
No dose-limiting toxicities were observed and the maximum tolerated
dose has not yet been established. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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