Cetuximab and Combination Chemotherapy as First-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Colorectal Cancer That Has Spread to the Liver and/or Lung

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as irinotecan, leucovorin, and fluorouracil, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving cetuximab together with combination chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells.
PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving cetuximab together with combination chemotherapy works as first-line therapy in treating patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver and/or lung.

原理：单克隆抗体（monoclonal antibodies）如西妥昔单抗（cetuximab）可通过多种途径阻断肿瘤生长。部分单克隆抗体可抑制肿瘤细胞的增殖与扩散能力；另有一类可识别肿瘤细胞，辅助杀伤肿瘤细胞或向其递送抗肿瘤物质。化疗药物如伊立替康（irinotecan）、亚叶酸钙（leucovorin）以及氟尿嘧啶（fluorouracil），则通过不同机制阻止肿瘤细胞生长：既可直接杀伤肿瘤细胞，也可抑制其分裂增殖。将西妥昔单抗与联合化疗方案联用，或可杀伤更多肿瘤细胞。
研究目的：本项II期临床试验旨在评估西妥昔单抗联合联合化疗方案作为一线治疗方案，在已发生肝和/或肺转移的结直肠癌患者中的治疗效果。