Panitumumab: the evidence for its use in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

Rossana Berardi¹, Azzurra Onofri², Mirco Pistelli², Elena Maccaroni², Mario Scartozzi¹, Chiara Pierantoni¹, Stefano Cascinu^1
1Clinica di Oncologia Medica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-GM Lancisi-G Salesi di Ancona, Italy; ²Scuola di Specializzazione in Oncologia Medica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy

Abstract: Panitumumab is the first fully human monoclonal antibody to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) to enter clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors. The anti-tumor activity of panitumumab has been tested in vitro and in vivo, and inhibition of tumor growth has been observed in numerous cancer models, particularly lung, kidney and colorectal (CRC). Preclinical and clinical studies have established a role for panitumumab in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) refractory to multiple chemotherapeutic regimens. Based on these encouraging findings, panitumumab was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-expressing mCRC refractory to fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and/or irinotecan-containing chemotherapeutic regimens. The improvement in progression free survival (PFS) and response rate (RR) produced by panitumumab monotherapy was significantly greater in patients with non mutated (wild-type) K-RAS than in those with mutant K-RAS. Therefore implementing routine K-RAS screening and limiting the use of EGFR inhibitors to patients with wild-type K-RAS appears the better strategy for select only the patients who could benefit from the therapy with panitumumab and also may have the potential for cost savings. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the patient-related, disease-related and economic-related evidence for the use of panitumumab in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in clinical practice.

Keywords: colorectal cancer, EGFR; K-RAS, panitumumab