The efficacy of Cetuximab (Erbitux®), a human monoclonal antibody designed to specifically direct against the epidermal growth factor receptor on the surface of tumour cells, in patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer has recently been examined in phase II and III trials.
Minor increases in progression free survival and overall survival were found, if cetuximab was added to chemotherapy. The safety examination of adding cetuximab to platinum-based double-agent chemotherapy showed higher toxicity rates and more serious adverse events in the cetuximab arm than in the control arm.
Before market access of cetuximab for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, benefits and risks of the therapy have to be weighed carefully.