That translated to 1.2 additional months without the cancer progressing, although the overall length of survival in the group taking the Erbitux was not increased.

"The Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the. Latest Cancer News Elevated Insulin Levels Linked to Breast Cancer Molecule Helps Leukemia Cells Hide No Firm Evidence Green Tea Helps Prevent Cancer Lymph Node Harvesting in Colon Cancer Questioned New Ginger May Signal Aggressive Breast Cancer Want More News. The study involved more than 1,100 people who had metastatic colorectal cancer that could not be surgically removed. The others were given a combination of cetuximab, which is marketed under the brand name Erbitux, along with the standard regimen. In those who had what's called a "wild type," or normal, form of the KRAS gene, Erbitux kept colorectal cancers from spreading 15% longer than did the FOLFIRI drugs alone, the study found. Sign Up for MedicineNet Newsletters. Results are published in the issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Half were given a standard chemotherapy regimen -- irinotecan, fluorouracil and leucovorin, known as FOLFIRI.