Cetuximab

(Erbitux®)

Erbitux®

Drug updated on 12/11/2024

Dosage FormInjection (intravenous; 100 mg/50 mL [2 mg/mL] or 200 mg/100 mL [2 mg/mL])
Drug ClassEpidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonists
Ongoing and
Completed Studies
ClinicalTrials.gov

Indication

  • Indicated for the treatment of locally or regionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in combination with radiation therapy
  • Indicated for the treatment of recurrent locoregional disease or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in combination with platinum-based therapy with fluorouracil
  • Indicated for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck progressing after platinum-based therapy
  • Indicated for the treatment of K-Ras wild-type, EGFR-expressing, metastatic colorectal cancer as determined by an FDA-approved test: in combination with FOLFIRI for first-line treatment, in combination with irinotecan in patients who are refractory to irinotecan-based chemotherapy, as a single-agent in patients who have failed oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based chemotherapy or who are intolerant to irinotecan
  • Indicated for the treatment of BRAF V600E mutation-positive metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC): in combination with encorafenib, for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) with a BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test, after prior therapy.

Latest News

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Summary
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  • This summary is based on the review of 25 systematic review(s)/meta-analysis(es). [1-25]
  • In locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC), cetuximab with radiotherapy improved locoregional control (LRC), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) compared to radiotherapy alone, with median OS ranging from 12.8 to 46 months. Cetuximab added to standard chemoradiation or combined with zalutumumab did not improve survival outcomes compared to chemoradiation alone.
  • In HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV(+) OPSCC), cetuximab combined with radiotherapy led to significantly shorter OS and PFS, along with increased rates of local regional failure and distant metastasis, compared to cisplatin combined with radiotherapy.
  • For metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), cetuximab in combination therapies improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to combination therapies without cetuximab. In RAS/KRAS wild-type patients, anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies, including cetuximab, provided benefits in objective response rate (ORR) and R0 resection rates, with median PFS between 9.5 and 15.5 months and OS between 24.7 and 37 months.
  • In recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M-SCCHN), cetuximab combined with PD-1 inhibitors improved the objective response rate (ORR) and 1-year OS rate in HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients, while no significant effectiveness was observed in HPV-positive cases.
  • In locally advanced (LA) HNSCC, cetuximab combined with radiotherapy (RT) increased occurrences of mucositis, skin toxicity, and infection, while showing lower incidences of anemia, leukocytopenia, neutropenia, nausea/vomiting, and renal toxicity compared to non-cetuximab treatments.
  • For metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), cetuximab monotherapy was associated with fewer adverse events compared to combination therapy, though it presented higher risks of dermatological and renal toxicities. Bevacizumab showed lower dermatological and renal adverse events than cetuximab but higher cardiovascular risks.
  • In HNSCC, cetuximab combined with PD-1 inhibitors resulted in increased grade 3 or higher toxicities when combined with radiotherapy.
  • Cetuximab demonstrated improved outcomes in HPV-negative HNSCC when combined with PD-1 inhibitors, while patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) experienced shorter overall survival and progression-free survival with cetuximab plus radiotherapy compared to cisplatin plus radiotherapy; in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), cetuximab yielded better response rates and resection outcomes in RAS/KRAS wild-type patients but showed no significant quality-of-life benefit for KRAS mutant patients.

Product Monograph / Prescribing Information

Document TitleYearSource
Erbitux (cetuximab) Prescribing Information.2021Eli Lilly and Company., Indianapolis, IN

Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses

Document TitleYearSource
Treatment options for cisplatin-ineligible patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review2024Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology
Anti‑epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody therapy in locally advanced head and neck cancer: A systematic review of phase III clinical trials2024Medicine International
Systematic evaluation and meta-analysis of the prognosis of down-staging human papillomavirus (HPV) positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma using cetuximab combined with radiotherapy instead of cisplatin combined with radiotherapy2024Peerj
Impacts of systemic treatments on health-related quality of life for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis2024Bmc Cancer
Triplet-drug chemotherapy combined with anti-EGFR antibody as an effective therapy for patients with initially unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis2023World Journal of Surgical Oncology
The efficacy and safety of anti-EGFR target agents in patients with potentially resectable metastatic colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials2023World Journal of Surgical Oncology
Locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treatment efficacy and safety: a systematic review and network meta-analysis2023Frontiers in Pharmacology
Combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors in recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: A meta-analysis2023International Immunopharmacology
Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Monoclonal Antibodies in the First-line Treatment of RAS Wild-type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review2023Clinical Therapeutics
Efficacy of first-line systemic treatment regimens for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a network meta-analysis2023European Archives of Oto-rhino-laryngology : Official Journal of the European
Efficacy of cetuximab plus PD-1 inhibitor differs by HPV status in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis2022Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer
Efficacy and safety of triplet chemotherapy plus anti-EGFR agents in metastatic colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis2022World Journal of Surgical Oncology
Safety Assessment on Serious Adverse Events of Targeted Therapeutic Agents Prescribed for RAS Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis2022International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Efficacy and Safety of Cetuximab Dosing (biweekly vs weekly) in Patients with KRAS Wild-type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-analysis2022The Oncologist
Systematic review of randomised clinical trials and observational studies for patients with RAS wild-type or BRAF(V600E)-mutant metastatic and/or unresectable colorectal cancer2022Critical Reviews in Oncology/hematology
Tolerability on Serious Adverse Events of First-Line Bevacizumab and Cetuximab for RAS Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis2022Healthcare (basel, Switzerland)
Cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer in the United States2022Journal of Medical Economics
Radiotherapy and Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition for Solid Cancers (ROCKIT): A Meta-Analysis of 13 Studies2021Jnci Cancer Spectrum
First-line treatment of advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation positive non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer2021The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Predictive Value of EGFR-PI3K-AKT-mTOR-Pathway Inhibitor Biomarkers for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review2021Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy
Comparative efficacy and safety of radiotherapy/cetuximab versus radiotherapy/chemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients: a systematic review of published, primarily non-randomized, data2020Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology
Concurrent cisplatin or cetuximab with radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A meta-analysis2020Medicine
Systemic Therapy in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis2020Critical Reviews in Oncology/hematology
Meta-analysis on the risk of fatal adverse events by bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab in 31 randomized trials including 25,000 patients with colorectal carcinoma2020Medicine
Comparison Between Biweekly and Weekly Cetuximab in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-analysis2020Anticancer Research

Clinical Practice Guidelines

Document TitleYearSource
Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: ASCO Guideline2023Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of