Overview
Patients with HER2+ metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) represent a small, but increasingly important subgroup due to emerging HER2-targeted therapies. This study used the Flatiron Health-Foundation Medicine clinico-genomic database to understand if anti-EGFR therapy (EGFRi) or bevacizumab is preferable as first-line therapy.
After examining genomic profiles of patients with HER2+ mCRC, it was seen that 80% of HER2+ mCRC patients are RAS/BRAF V600E wild-type and therefore eligible for EGFRi. However, no survival difference was observed for patients treated with EGFRi relative to bevacizumab in the first-line setting.
Why this matters
As treatment landscapes continue to rapidly evolve, this study improves our understanding of targeted first-line treatment options for patients with HER2+ mCRC. By using real-world data, researchers were able to provide novel evidence on a key patient subgroup, highlighting the need for specific treatments for patients with HER2+ mCRC.