Long-term survival in an advanced gastric cancer patient treated with cetuximab in association with FOLFIRI: a case report

In December 2004, a 52-year-old woman with metastatic gastric cancer was enrolled in the phase II clinical trial FOLCETUX, receiving cetuximab at an initial dose of 400 mg/m² i.v. followed by weekly doses of 250 mg/m², irinotecan 180 mg/m² i.v. on day 1, LFA 100 mg/m² i.v. followed by 5-FU 400 mg/m² i.v. bolus and 600 mg/m² i.v. 22-h continuous infusion on days 1 and 2 every 2 weeks, to a total of 17 cycles. CT and PET-CT performed after six weeks treatment failed to show any residual disease, with complete radiological response in accord to RECIST criteria and complete metabolic response. A total of 24 maintenance administrations with cetuximab alone (250 mg/m² weekly) were performed, as foreseen by the protocol in responders. In November 2012 a clinical, radiological (CT) and metabolic (PET-CT) patient examination proved negative for recurrent disease, signifying 95 months’ progression free survival.