Cetuximab better than bevacizumab first-line in KRAS wild type expressing colorectal tumours

CHICAGO—Adding cetuximab to first-line irinotecan chemotherapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer gave a median four months advantage in overall survival as compared with adding bevacizumab. Findings from the German Phase III FIRE study were presented at the 2013 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago by Professor Volker Heinemann from Munich University. He explained to Peter Goodwin why this research has clarified the clinical decision-making process for patients who have the non-mutated form of the KRAS gene and are thus sensitive to both of these targeted agents.