Cetuximab with irinotecan, folinic acid and 5-fluorouracil as first-line treatment in advanced gastroesophageal cancer: a prospective multi-center biomarker-oriented phase II study.

Abstract Background Cetuximab plus irinotecan/folinic acid/5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (IF) was evaluated as first-line treatment of patients with advanced gastric cancer and gastroesophageal junction tumors. Preplanned analyses of the influence of tumor biomarkers on treatment outcome were carried out. Patients and methods Patients received weekly cetuximab (400 mg/m2 on day 1, subsequently 250 mg/m2) plus irinotecan (80 mg/m2) and a 24-hour continuous infusion of folinic acid (200 mg/m2) and 5-FU (1500 mg/m2) on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and 36 of a 50-day cycle, until progressive disease (PD). Results The most common grade 3/4 toxic effects in 49 patients were diarrhea (15%) and skin toxic effects…