Dr. Burtness provides a thorough summary of the clinical experience with the monoclonal antibodies cetuximab(Drug information on cetuximab) (Erbitux) and panitumumab (Vectibix) in the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The following comments are intended to complement her review.
Antibodies consist of two identical heavy chains and two identical light chains that are held together by disulfide bonds. The N terminal of each chain possesses a variable domain that binds antigen through three hypervariable complementarity-determining regions. The C terminal domains of the heavy and light chains form the constant regions, which define the class and subclass of the antibody. The light chains are either of the kappa or lambda types. The amino acid sequence of the constant region of the heavy chains specifies the class of immunoglobulin (IgG in this case) and the subclasses (there are four subclasses of IgG), each of which have different functions.
Both cetuximab and panitumumab are competitive inhibitors of the binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and other ligands, such as transforming growth factor-alpha, to the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR is expressed in normal epithelial tissues, including skin, hair follicles, and gastrointestinal mucosa, and is overexpressed in many human colorectal cancers. Antibody-binding prevents phosphorylation and activation of the EGFR-associated kinases, and interrupts transmission of various growth-promoting signals that regulate transcription of molecules involved with cellular growth and survival, motility, proliferation, and transformation.Cetuximab
Cetuximab is a recombinant chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to the extracellular domain of the EGFR. Cetuximab contains the Fv regions of a murine anti-EGFR antibody with human IgG1 heavy and kappa light chain constant regions. Its molecular weight is approximately 152 kDa, and the antibody is produced in a murine myeloma cell culture system. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved cetuximab in February 2004 under the accelerated approval of biologics regulations based on the safety and efficacy from three studies.[1] Cetuximab was approved for use in patients with colorectal cancer whose tumors stained positive for EGFR using a test kit manufactured by DakoCytomation California, Inc (www.dakousa.com), in combination with irinotecan(Drug information on irinotecan) (Camptosar) in patients whose cancer had progressed on prior irinotecan-based therapy, and as monotherapy in patients who cannot tolerate irinotecan-based therapy.[2]
With the recommended dose regimen (400 mg/m2 initial dose followed by 250 mg/m2 weekly), steady-state concentrations of cetuximab are reached by the third weekly infusion, and the mean half-life is about 4.7 days. In vitro, IgG1 antibodies elicit antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, which can kill cancer cells and may contribute to their overall therapeutic effects. Information presented at the Spring 2007 American Association for Cancer Research meeting suggests that cetuximab administered to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in a 500 mg/m2 dose every 2 weeks shows a similar pharmacokinetic profile, and no increased toxicity compared to the weekly dosing regimen.[3]Panitumumab
Panitumumab is a recombinant fully human IgG2 kappa monoclonal antibody that also binds specifically to the extracellular domain of the human EGFR. Its molecular weight is approximately 147 kDa, and the antibody is produced in a genetically engineered Chinese hamster ovarian cell culture system.[4] The FDA approved panitumumb in September 2006 for the treatment of patients with EGFR-expressing, metastatic colorectal carcinoma with disease progression on or following fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin(Drug information on oxaliplatin) (Eloxatin)-, and irinotecan-containing chemotherapy regimens.
The approval was made on the basis of the results of a single, open-label, randomized, multinational study that enrolled 463 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who were randomized to receive either best supportive care alone or best supportive care plus panitumumab. This trial showed improvement in progression-free survival with panitumumab [5]. With the recommended dose regimen (6 mg/kg over 1 hour every 2 weeks), steady-state concentrations of cetuximab are reached by the third weekly infusion, and the mean half-life is about 7.5 days.Comparisons and Conclusions
A 70-year-old man with a history of localized prostate cancer treated with whole-pelvis radiation therapy with a boost to the prostate, in conjunction with androgen deprivation therapy 7 years prior, presented with lower back pain. A bone scan revealed an area of activity in the sacrum. What is the most likely diagnosis?
