Sign in Subscribe
Cancer research

Anti-EGFR Rechallenge Therapy Shows Promise in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Investigators at the University of Paris have published new research on the effectiveness of anti-EGFR rechallenge therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer. The study, titled "Circulating Tumor Dna Driving Anti-egfr Rechallenge Therapy In Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: the Rasintro Prospective Multicenter Study," suggests that patients with RAS/BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer may benefit from anti-EGFR rechallenge therapy, particularly if they experience a significant decrease in circulating tumor DNA concentration.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study enrolled 62 patients with a median age of 66.1 years and a median number of previous lines of therapy of 3.
  • Patients received panitumumab or cetuximab rechallenge alone (66.2%) or with chemotherapy (33.8%).
  • The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) according to RAS/BRAF mutational status on circulating tumor DNA at cycle 1 (C1).
  • Patients with RAS/BRAF wild-type on circulating tumor DNA had a significantly longer median PFS (3.3 vs 1.9 months; HR = 0.43; P = 0.01).
  • Patients who experienced an early decrease of 50% in circulating tumor DNA concentration had a significantly longer median PFS (4.2 vs 2.8 months; HR = 0.39; P = 0.02) and overall survival (OS) (10.2 vs 4.2 months; HR = 0.39; P = 0.02).
  • The study concluded that anti-EGFR rechallenge therapy in refractory disease is more effective in patients with RAS/BRAF wild-type on circulating tumor DNA.

Statistics:

*Median age of patients: 66.1 years*

*Median number of previous lines of therapy: 3*

*Percentage of patients receiving panitumumab or cetuximab rechallenge alone: 66.2%*

*Percentage of patients receiving panitumumab or cetuximab rechallenge with chemotherapy: 33.8%*

*Number of patients with RAS/BRAF wild-type on circulating tumor DNA: 42 (67.7%)*

*Number of patients with RAS/BRAF mutated on circulating tumor DNA: 20 (32.3%)*

*Median PFS in patients with RAS/BRAF wild-type on circulating tumor DNA: 3.3 months*

*Median PFS in patients with RAS/BRAF mutated on circulating tumor DNA: 1.9 months*

*Hazard ratio (HR) for PFS: 0.43 (P = 0.01)*

*Median PFS in patients with a 50% decrease in circulating tumor DNA concentration: 4.2 months*

*Median PFS in patients without a 50% decrease in circulating tumor DNA concentration: 2.8 months*

*Hazard ratio (HR) for PFS in patients with a 50% decrease in circulating tumor DNA concentration: 0.39 (P = 0.01)*

*Median overall survival (OS) in patients with a 50% decrease in circulating tumor DNA concentration: 10.2 months*

*Median OS in patients without a 50% decrease in circulating tumor DNA concentration: 4.2 months*

Sources:

  • Circulating Tumor Dna Driving Anti-egfr Rechallenge Therapy In Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: the Rasintro Prospective Multicenter Study. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2025.
  • NewsRx. New Data from University of Paris Illuminate Findings in Colon Cancer (Circulating Tumor Dna Driving Anti-egfr Rechallenge Therapy In Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: the Rasintro Prospective Multicenter Study). Cancer Weekly. October 21, 2025; p 1175.

Read more