Nature Communications - The efficacy of monoclonal antibodies used to block the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can sometimes be limited by the emergence of drug resistance cells, causing colorectal cancer patients to develop RAS or EGFR mutations. A group of Italian scientists discovered that the development of drug-resistant cells is associated with the clinical outcome of colorectal cancer patients treated with anti-EGFR antibodies.

 

Acquired RAS or EGFR mutations and duration of response to EGFR blockade in colorectal cancer

 

Authors: Beth O. Van Emburgh, Sabrina Arena, Giulia Siravegna, Luca Lazzari, Giovanni Crisafulli, Giorgio Corti, Benedetta Mussolin, Federica Baldi, Michela Buscarino, Alice Bartolini, Emanuele Valtorta, Joana Vidal, Beatriz Bellosillo, Giovanni Germano, Filippo Pietrantonio, Agostino Ponzetti, Joan Albanell, Salvatore Siena, Andrea Sartore-Bianchi, Federica Di Nicolantonio, Clara Montagut & Alberto Bardelli

Nature Communications 7 - doi:10.1038/ncomms13665 - 08 December 2016