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Fruquintinib Combo Exhibits Manageable Safety Profile in Pretreated mCRC
Fruquintinib Combo Exhibits Manageable Safety Profile in Pretreated mCRC

April 22nd 2025

Treatment-related adverse events of special interest occurred in 64.9% of patients who received fruquintinib and 23.0% of those who received placebo.

Although the overall incidence of colorectal adenocarcinoma is decreasing, the reduction is primarily associated with patients 55 years and older.
Pancreatic/Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Rates Have Increased in Young Adults

April 15th 2025

Neoantigen-Specific TIL/Pembrolizumab Elicits Responses in GI Cancers
Neoantigen-Specific TIL/Pembrolizumab Elicits Responses in GI Cancers

April 8th 2025

FDA Approves Nivolumab/Ipilimumab in Adult/Pediatric MSI-H or dMMR CRC
FDA Approves Nivolumab/Ipilimumab in Adult/Pediatric MSI-H or dMMR CRC

April 8th 2025

HIPEC Does Not Add Benefit to Cytoreduction Surgery in CRC Peritoneal Metastasis
HIPEC Does Not Add Benefit to Cytoreduction Surgery in CRC Peritoneal Metastasis

March 31st 2025

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Targeted Therapy in Rectal Cancer

August 1st 2007

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are often overexpressed in colorectal cancer and are associated with inferior outcomes. Based on successful randomized phase III trials, anti-EGFR and anti-VEGF therapeutics have entered clinical practice. Cetuximab (Erbitux), an EGFR-specific antibody, is currently approved in the United States in combination with irinotecan (Camptosar) for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to irinotecan or as a single agent for patients unable to tolerate irinotecan-based therapy. In retrospective analyses, patients with EGFR-expressing rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant radiation therapy had a significantly inferior disease-free survival and lower rates of achieving pathologic complete response. Based on the positive data in metastatic colorectal cancer and synergy with radiation therapy seen in preclinical models, there is a strong rationale to combine cetuximab with neoadjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy in rectal cancer. Bevacizumab (Avastin), a VEGF-specific antibody, was the first antiangiogenic agent to be approved in the United States for use in combination with standard chemotherapy in the first- and second-line of treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer. VEGF-targeted therapy may lead to indirect killing of cancer cells by damaging tumor blood vessels, and may increase the radiosensitivity of tumor-associated endothelial cells. VEGF blockade can also "normalize" tumor vasculature, thereby leading to greater tumor oxygenation and drug penetration. This review will address completed and ongoing trials that have established and continue to clarify the effects of these agents in rectal cancer.