PTEN status in advanced colorectal cancer treated with cetuximab

Br J Cancer. 2010 Jan 5;102(1):162-4. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605471. Epub 2009 Dec 1.

Abstract

Background: Loss of phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted in chromosome 10 (PTEN) function in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) may represent one of the resistance mechanisms to cetuximab by interfering with the epidermal growth factor receptor signal transduction pathway.

Methods: PTEN expression tested by indirect immunofluorescence was evaluated both on primary (n=43) and on metastatic (n=24) sites in CRC patients treated with cetuximab.

Results: The loss of PTEN expression tested on metastatic sites was negatively associated with response (100% progressive disease (PD) in PTEN-negative cases vs 30% PD in PTEN-positive cases; P<0.05), PFS (0.8 vs 8.2 months; P<0.001) and OS (2.9 vs 14.2 months; P<0.001).

Conclusion: A potential role of PTEN in the anti-tumour activity of cetuximab could be hypothesised.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / chemistry
  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Camptothecin / administration & dosage
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives
  • Cetuximab
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ErbB Receptors / physiology
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Dosage
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Irinotecan
  • Neoplasm Proteins / analysis*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Oxaliplatin
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / analysis*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / physiology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / physiology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / physiology
  • Salvage Therapy
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Irinotecan
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • AKT1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • PTEN protein, human
  • Cetuximab
  • Camptothecin