Effect of FOLFOX regimen combined with cetuximab treatment on the efficacy and tumor markers of advanced colon cancer patients

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of FOLFOX regimen combined with cetuximab in the treatment of advanced colon cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study involved 60 patients with primary colon cancer who were treated in the PLA Navy Anqing Hospital from January 2022 to February 2023. According to their treatment regimen, the patients were divided into a treatment group that received FOLFOX4 combined with cetuximab (n=30), and a control group treated with cetuximab alone (n=30). The general data of the two groups were compared, and the short-term response rate was assessed by comparing the proportions of complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD) between the two groups. In addition, the progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups, along with the adverse reactions and changes in serum tumor marker (CEA and CA19-9) levels.

Result: The observation group showed a significantly higher short-term effective rate (CR+PR) compared to the control group (56.67% vs. 23.33%). The PFS and OS of the observation group were markedly longer compared to the control group. In terms of adverse reactions, the incidence of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea was similar between the two groups; however, the incidence of rash in the observation group was higher. After the treatment, the serum CEA and CA19-9 levels decreased markedly in both groups, and the observation group demonstrated obviously lower levels than the control group (P<0.001). Similarly, the decreases in VEGF-A and VEGFR2 levels in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group (all P<0.001).

Conclusion: Despite inducing rash, which is controllable, the combined therapy of FOLFOX and cetuximab significantly improves short-term efficacy, reduces the levels of CEA, CA19-9, VEGF-A and VEGFR2, and extends the PFS and OS of patients, which can be served as an effective treatment strategy for advanced colon cancer.