Chemotherapy, Bevacizumab, and Cetuximab in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Background Fluoropyrimidine- based chemotherapy plus the anti - vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) antibody bevacizumab is standard first- line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. We studied the effect of adding the anti - epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) antibody cetuximab to a combination of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods We randomly assigned 755 patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer to capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab ( CB regimen, 378 patients) or the same regimen plus weekly cetuximab ( CBC regimen, 377 patients). The primary end point was progression- free survival. The mutation status of the…