Journal article
K-ras mutations and benefit from cetuximab in advanced colorectal cancer
Christos S Karapetis, Shirin Khambata-Ford, Derek J Jonker, Chris J O'Callaghan, Dongsheng Tu, Niall C Tebbutt, R John Simes, Haji Chalchal, Jeremy D Shapiro, Sonia Robitaille, Timothy J Price, Lois Shepherd, Heather-Jane Au, Christiane Langer, Malcolm J Moore, John R Zalcberg
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE | MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOC | Published : 2008
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Treatment with cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor, improves overall and progression-free survival and preserves the quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer that has not responded to chemotherapy. The mutation status of the K-ras gene in the tumor may affect the response to cetuximab and have treatment-independent prognostic value. METHODS: We analyzed tumor samples, obtained from 394 of 572 patients (68.9%) with colorectal cancer who were randomly assigned to receive cetuximab plus best supportive care or best supportive care alone, to look for activating mutations in exon 2 of the K-ras gene. We assessed whether the ..
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