The phase II COIN-B trial randomized patients to receive cetuxima

The phase II COIN-B trial randomized patients to receive cetuximab and chemotherapy (Arm D) in an intermittent schedule versus intermittent chemotherapy with continuous cetuximab administration (Arm E). Upon RECIST progression on either arm, the same chemotherapy plus cetuximab was restarted and continued until progression. Continuous cetuximab administration as maintenance was associated with a longer CFI and longer Selleckchem CHIR-99021 PFS (5,1 and 13,7 months respectively vs 3,7 and 12 months in the arm D) [43]. The MACRO TTD phase III trial randomized 480

previously untreated mCRC patients to receive 6 cycles of bevacizumab and Xelox followed by Xelox and bevacizumab (arm A) or bevacizumab alone (Arm B). There were not statistically significant differences in PFS and OS between the 2 arms [44]. This study confirmed the efficacy of a maintenance therapy with bevacizumab after a predefined period of chemotherapy induction but did not investigated the role of bevacizumab maintenance in a stop-and-go strategy with a subsequent reintroduction of the same chemotherapy when disease progression see more occurs. In the ongoing AIO study, maintenance treatment with capecitabine or 5-FU/folinic acid and bevacizumab is

compared with bevacizumab alone or no maintenance treatment in subjects with inoperable and non-progressive metastatic colorectal cancer after first line induction treatment for 24 weeks with a fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin- and bevacizumab-based

chemotherapy. Reinduction treatment will be done in case of progression (Table 3). Table 3 Clinical evidences evaluating different strategies for treatment of mCRC EGFR therapy rechallenge – A multicenter phase II prospective study confirmed the activity of cetuximab rechallenge plus irinotecan-based therapy after an intervening chemotherapy [30] – A phase II prospective study did not show any response to panitumumab administrated after progression on prior cetuximab-based therapy [31] Chemotherapy stop-and go strategy – OPTIMOX 1 study shows that ceasing oxaliplatin after 6 cycles, followed by leucovorin–5-FU alone, achieves RR, PFS, and OS equivalent to that with continuing oxaliplatin Gemcitabine mw until progression or toxicity [38] – OPTIMOX 2 study shows that continuing treatment with a maintenance chemotherapy led to a longer PFS, compared with pausing treatment [39] – COIN study did not show a non inferiority of chemotherapy free interval versus continuous treatment but treatment holiday significantly reduced cumulative toxic effects, and improved quality of life [41] Biological treatment of chemotherapy-free interval – NORDIC VIII phase III trial showed that cetuximab maintenance do not improve survival data comparing to intermittent treatment [42]. – COIN B phase II trial showed that cetuximab maintenance significantly improved chemotherapy free interval and PFS [43].

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