New treatment options for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

With approval by the US Food and Drug Administration in September, panitumumab will emerge as yet another option available to community oncologists for treating patients with advanced, refractory colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Panitumumab's antitumor activity stems from its ability to target and interfere with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. The drug is potentially interchangeable with cetuximab in chemotherapeutic regimens. But integrating panitumumab into existing treatment strategies for advanced CRC will present a challenge for community oncologists, as the drug's best application in this disease setting is not yet clear. This article sets the stage for the supplement, first providing a summary of EGFR-targeted therapies, a description that contrasts cetuximab with panitumumab, and a discussion of the pivotal clinical trials of panitumumab in CRC.