Panitumumab monotherapy in patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND. The safety and efficacy of the fully human antibody panitumumab was evaluated in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to available therapies. METHODS. This phase 2 open-label, multicenter study of panitumurnab enrolled patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had progressed on chemotherapy that included a fluoropyrimidine and irinotecan or oxaliplatin, or both. All patients had tumors with >= 10% 1+ epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) staining by immunohistochemistry. Patients were stratified into 2 strata (high or tow staining intensity) and received intravenous panimmurnab 2.5 mg/kg weekly 8 of every 9 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS. In all, 148 patients received paniturnumab, 105 in the high EGFr stratum, 43 in the low EGFr stratum. Overall response by central review was 9% (95% confidence interval [0], 5%-15%) and was similar between strata. An additional 29% of patients had stable disease. Median progression-free survival was 14 weeks (95% CI, 8-16) and median overall survival was 9 months (95% Cl, 6-10). Toxicities were manageable, with skin toxicity reported in 95% of patients (5% grade 3 or 4). Four patients discontinued therapy because of toxicity. No antipaniturnumah antibodies were detected. One patient had an infusion reaction but was able to continue therapy. CONCLUSIONS. Panitumumab given weekly was well tolerated and had singleagent activity in previously treated patients with colorectal cancer. Dermatologic toxicity was common but rarely severe. Ongoing studies will determine panitumumab activity earlier in the course of treatment for colorectal cancer and in combination with other antineoplastic agents. Cancer 2007;110:980-8. (c) 2007 American Cancer Society.