Erbitux in Stage III trial failed

Addition of Cetuximab to Standard Chemotherapy in Early-Stage Colon Cancer Shows No Benefit in Phase 3 Clinical Trial

A Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) determined that in a phase 3 clinical trial for early-stage colon cancer, no group of patients benefited from the addition of the monoclonal antibody cetuximab (Erbitux ™) to a standard chemotherapy regimen known as FOLFOX. Monoclonal antibodies are a type of protein designed in the laboratory that can locate and bind to substances in the body, including tumor cells. There was some initial evidence that the addition of cetuximab to FOLFOX may have been harmful, particularly in patients age 70 or older. Approximately 1,760 patients with stage III colon cancer (cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes surrounding the colon but not to other parts of the body) after compete surgical removal of the cancerous portions of the colon were randomized between the two treatment arms. All patients had their tumors tested and only those patients with tumors that did not contain mutations in the KRASgene (called KRAS wild-type) were included in the analysis. Detailed results from the study will be presented at a future scientific meeting.

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I know several people were concerned because Erbitux doesn't work on KRAS mutants... well it doesn't work period in this Stage III trial.