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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies
Published on: September 30, 2016
Targeted therapy in colorectal cancer
Supriya Rajpal1, Alan P Venook
1University of California, San Francisco, Division of Hematology/Oncology, 505 Parnassus Avenue, Box 1270, San Francisco, CA 94143-1270, USA. srajpal@itsa.ucsf.edu
Novel targeted therapies like bevacizumab and cetuximab improve metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. While effective, their use requires careful consideration of toxicities and patient-specific factors for optimal outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment has advanced with chemotherapies, but limitations like toxicity and lack of specificity persist.
- Growth factor aberrations are implicated in CRC development, driving the creation of targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of novel targeted agents, bevacizumab and cetuximab, on metastatic colorectal cancer treatment.
- To discuss the efficacy, limitations, and future directions of these agents in CRC management.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent advancements in chemotherapeutic and targeted agents for metastatic CRC.
- Analysis of clinical trial data and FDA approvals for bevacizumab and cetuximab.
- Discussion of treatment strategies, including combination therapies and monotherapy.
Main Results:
- Bevacizumab enhances chemotherapy efficacy in metastatic CRC but carries risks like thromboembolic events and gastrointestinal perforations.
- Cetuximab combined with irinotecan is suitable for advanced CRC patients who have failed irinotecan; monotherapy is an option if irinotecan cannot be administered.
- Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status is currently mandated for cetuximab candidacy, though current assays may be suboptimal.
Conclusions:
- Bevacizumab and cetuximab represent significant progress in metastatic CRC treatment, offering new therapeutic options.
- Careful patient selection and ongoing research are crucial to optimize the use of these targeted agents and mitigate risks.
- Future research should focus on improved diagnostic techniques and exploring multi-targeted strategies for advanced CRC.
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