Cited by 267Colorectal Cancer Treatments and StudiesHER2/EGFR in Cancer ResearchLung Cancer Treatments and Mutations

EGFR FISH assay predicts for response to cetuximab in chemotherapy refractory colorectal cancer patients

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Cappuzzo, F., Finocchiaro, G., Rossi, E., Jänne, P.A., Carnaghi, C., Calandri, C., Bencardino, K., Ligorio, C. +8 more·2008·Annals of Oncology

Abstract

Background Standardized conditions to distinguish subpopulations of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients more and less sensitive to cetuximab therapy remain undefined.Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) copy number by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in paraffin-embedded tumor blocks from 85 chemorefractory CRC patients treated with cetuximab. Results were analyzed according to different score systems previously reported in colorectal and lung cancers. The primary end point of the study was identification of the EGFR FISH score that best associates with response rate (RR).Results Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the cut-off that best discriminated responders versus nonresponders to cetuximab was a mean of 2.92 EGFR gene copies per cell. This model showed sensitivity of 58.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 47.1-70.1) and specificity of 93.3% (95% CI = 80.6-100). EGFR FISH-positive patients (N = 43, 50.6%) had significantly higher RR (P = 0.0001) and significantly longer time to disease progression (P = 0.02) than EGFR FISH negative (N = 42, 49.4%). Other scoring systems resulted less accurate in discriminating patients with the highest likelihood of response to cetuximab therapy.Conclusions CRC patients with high EGFR gene copy number have an increased likelihood to respond to cetuximab therapy. Prospective clinical trials with a careful standardization of assay conditions and pattern interpretation are urgently needed.

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Authors
Cappuzzo, F., Finocchiaro, G., Rossi, E., Jänne, P. A., Carnaghi, C., Calandri, C., Bencardino, K., Ligorio, C., Ciardiello, F., Pressiani, T., Destro, A., Roncalli, M., Crino, L., Franklin, W. A., Santoro, A., & Varella-Garcia, M.
Affiliations
  • IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital (IT)
  • University of Colorado Cancer Center (US)
  • Ospedale Bellaria (IT)
  • Policlinico San Matteo Fondazione (IT)
  • University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" (IT)
Corresponding author
Cappuzzo, F.
Venue
Annals of Oncology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-04
Volume
19
Issue
4
Pages
717-723
ISSN
0923-7534 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2158475201
Cited by
267
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 24
FWCI
18.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Annals of Oncology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
  • Cancer Center, University of Colorado
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Colorectal Cancer Treatments and Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › HER2/EGFR in Cancer Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Lung Cancer Treatments and Mutations
Keywords
EGFR copy number, cetuximab, colorectal cancer, chemorefractory cancer, predictive biomarkers, treatment response prediction, time to progression, EGFR amplification
MeSH terms
Cetuximab, Adult, Aged, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Antineoplastic Agents, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Female, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Italy, Male, Middle Aged, Predictive Value of Tests, Retrospective Studies, ROC Curve, Sensitivity and Specificity, Biomarkers, Tumor, Colorectal Neoplasms, Confidence Intervals, Survival Analysis, Treatment Outcome, In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence, Disease-Free Survival, Patient Selection, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized, ErbB Receptors

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