Cetuximab and panitumumab: are they interchangeable?

摘要

Two epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted monoclonal antibodies are currently used as second-line or third-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer: cetuximab, an IgGl chimeric monoclonal antibody, and panitumumab, a fully humanised lgG2 antibody. Preclinical data suggest a similar mode of action for these two drugs. Cetuximab might induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, but whether this translates to higher efficacy than panitumumab is uncertain. The main pharmacological difference between the drugs is in their IgG backbone-panitumumab does not require premedication and incidence of hypersensitivity is lower because of the fully humanised nature of the antibody. KRAS testing is now recommended in patients receving these two drugs since KRAS mutation predicts lack of response to EGFR inhibitors