ASCO favors routine KRAS test in colon ca

Publication
Article
Oncology NEWS InternationalOncology NEWS International Vol 18 No 1
Volume 18
Issue 1

SAN FRANCISCO-ASCO released a provisional clinical opinion that recommends routine KRAS testing to guide treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer with cetuximab (Erbitux) and panitumumab (Vectibix).

SAN FRANCISCO-ASCO released a provisional clinical opinion that recommends routine KRAS testing to guide treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer with cetuximab (Erbitux) and panitumumab (Vectibix).

The PCO (www.asco.org/pco/kras) states that all patients with metastatic colon cancer, who have the wild-type form of the gene and who are candidates for anti-EFGR therapy, have their tumors tested.

If a patient has a mutated form of the KRAS gene, the PCO recommends against the use of anti-EFGR antibody therapy. An economic analysis presented at the 2008 ASCO GI Cancers Symposium found that routine testing for KRAS gene mutations could save the U.S. health system up to $604 million per year in the cost of cetuximab alone.

Newsletter

Stay up to date on recent advances in the multidisciplinary approach to cancer.

Recent Videos
2 experts in this video
2 experts in this video
Extravasation with beta emitters may elicit more drastic adverse effects due to their higher radiation dose.
Increasing the use of patient-reported outcomes may ensure that practitioners can fully ascertain the impact of treatment for rare lymphomas.
Photographic and written documentation can help providers recognize inflammatory breast cancer symptoms across diverse populations.
The use of guideline-concordant care in breast cancer appears to be more common in White populations than Black populations.
Related Content