A comparision study between one-week and two-week schedule of cetuximab plus chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer

Abstract

Objective To compare the short-term efficacy and main side effects between one-week and two-week schedule of cetuximab plus chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods 56 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled, ECOG physical status 0～2, good liver and renal function, using the RECIST published in 2000 to evaluate the measurable lesions. 30 patients received oneweek schedule of cetuximab plus chemotherapy, cetuximab was administered at an initial dose of 400 mg/m~2 followed by weekly doses of 250 mg/m~2; 26 patients received two -week schedule of cetuximab plus chemotheraphy, cetuximab was administered at an initial dose of 500 mg/m~2 and the same dose was given every two weeks. The termination of the study was patients finishing 8 weeks treatment or disease progress.Results 28 patients were evaluable in one-week schedule group: CR 1, PR 7, SD 11, PD 9, RR was 28.6 %,DCR was 67.9 %. 26 patients were evaluable in two-week schedule: none of CR, PR 8, SD 9, PD 9, RR was 30.8 %, DCR was 65.4 %, and no significant difference was found(P >0.05). Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ toxicity were rash,nausea, vomiting, neutropenia and reduction of leukemia, no significant difference was found in the two groups (P >0.05). Conclusion The therapeutic effect and safety for metastatic colorectal cancer are similar between one-week and two-week schedule of cetuximab plus chemotherapy. Key words: Intestinal neoplasms; Drug therapy; combination; Cetuximab