Combining bevacizumab and panitumumab with irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin (FOLFIRI) as second-line treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Bevacizumab and panitumumab are human monoclonal antibodies with different targeting antigens, vascular endothelial growth factor, and epidermal growth factor receptor. This study examined the efficacy and safety of combining bevacizumab and panitumumab plus fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) as the second-line therapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Patients with mCRC, and previously failed with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, were given bevacizumab (3 mg/kg) and panitumumab (3 mg/kg) plus FOLFIRI every other week. From September 2008 to July 2012, 173 patients were included in the study. The response rate was 42.3 %, and the disease-controlled rate was 65.7 %. The median progression-free survival was 6.5 months, and the median overall survival was 15.4 months. Various adverse events (AE) including those known toxicities associated with antibody therapy were recorded. The overall AE rate was 64.5 % for grade 3–4. The treatment of combining bevacizumab and panitumumab plus FOLFIRI is effective and safe as a second-line therapy for patients with mCRC.