Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining irinotecan, bevacizumab, and cetuximab/panitumumab as a 4th-line treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Methods: All patients had KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer and had previously received fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and cetuximab/panitumumab in a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd line setting. Most patients had previously received bevacizumab as well. All patients had progressed within 3 months after the last given treatment before starting the triple combination therapy every second week.
Results: Sixty-three patients were evaluated. The triple combination therapy was well tolerated. The median progression-free survival was 6.1 months, and the median overall survival was 11.9 months. Four patients (6%) obtained a partial response, and 40 (63%) had stable disease.
Conclusion: The combination of irinotecan, bevacizumab, and cetuximab/panitumumab is safe and shows a toxicity profile corresponding to what is expected from the agents alone. The results indicate that the combination in the 4th line may result in a high rate of disease control in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Keywords: 4th-line therapy; Bevacizumab; Cetuximab; EGFR inhibitor; Irinotecan; Metastatic colorectal cancer; Panitumumab.
© 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.