Molecular characterisation and cetuximab-based treatment in a patient with refractory small bowel adenocarcinoma

Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is an uncommon, aggressive neoplasm and limited data are available to guide systemic therapeutic decisions. Only two prospective studies have evaluated the role of chemotherapy in advanced disease, whilst most of the data are generated from retrospective analyses of single institutions. By analogy with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), fluoropyrimidine-based regimens are commonly used. The role of biologicals in this disease is as yet unexplored; nonetheless we read with interest the article by Tsang et al on the use of bevacizumab in advanced SBA.1 Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), approved for the treatment of irinotecan-refractory mCRC. In addition, in mCRC it has been shown to improve efficacy in …