Patterns of practice with third-line anti-EGFR antibody for metastatic colorectal cancer

Background Therapy with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody improves outcomes for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mcrc) in the first-, second-, and third-line trial settings. In British Columbia, the use of EGFR inhibitors (EGFRis) is confined to third-line therapy, which might lower the proportion of patients who receive this therapy. The objective of the present study was to describe EGFRi treatment patterns when those agents are limited to the third-line setting. The results will inform decisions about optimal use of EGFRi agents, including earlier in the course of therapy for metastatic disease. Methods All patients with newly diagnosed mcrc who were referred to BC Cancer Agency clinics in 2009 were included in the study. Prognostic and treatment information was prospectively collected; KRAS test results were determined by chart review. Results The study included 443 patients with a median age of 66 years. For the 321 patients who received systemic therapy, median survival was 22.3 months. Of the 117 patients who were treated with 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan, and who were potentially eligible for EGFRi therapy, 90% (105 patients) were tested for KRAS status. Of the 60 patients with KRAS wild-type tumours, 82% (49 patients) received EGFRi therapy. Conclusions When EGFRi therapy is limited to the third-line setting, only a small proportion of patients receive such therapy, with death and poor performance status preventing its use in the rest. Availability of EGFRi in earlier lines of therapy could increase the proportion of patients treated with all active systemic agents.