What has NICE said?
Cetuximab (Erbitux) or panitumumab (Vectibix) given with 5‑fluorouracil, folinic acid and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) or 5‑fluorouracil, folinic acid and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) are recommended. They are possible treatments for RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer in adults that has not been treated before.
If you have RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer that has not been treated before, and your doctor thinks that cetuximab or panitumumab with FOLFOX or FOLFIRI is the right treatment, you should be able to have it on the NHS.
The condition and the treatments
Colorectal cancer, or bowel cancer, affects the colon or rectum. It is metastatic if it has spread to other parts of the body. Colorectal cancer cells can have changes (mutations) in the KRAS genes, which affect how well some treatments work. RAS wild-type colorectal cancer has no KRAS mutations.
Cetuximab and panitimumab slow the growth of RAS wild-type colorectal cancer.
NHS Choices may be a good place to find out more.
These organisations can give you advice and support:
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Bowel Cancer UK, 0207 940 1760
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Beating Bowel Cancer, 0208 973 0000
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Macmillan Cancer Support, 0808 808 0000
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Cancer Research UK – patient information, 0808 800 4040
NICE is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any information or advice provided by these organisations.