|
ASCO Urges KRAS Gene Testing for Colorectal Cancer |
|
Friday, 16 January 2009 00:00 |
|
On January 13, 2009, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) published a “provisional clinical opinion,” recommending that patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who are candidates for anti-EFGR therapy have tumors tested for KRAS gene mutations.
According to ASCO, patients with mutated forms of the KRAS gene should not receive the drugs cetuximab (Erbitux) and panitumumab (Vectibix), based on recent studies indicating this treatment is only effective in patients with normal forms of the gene. To read the entire provisional clinical opinion, visit ASCO online at www.asco.org.
|
