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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2014; 20(15): 4263-4275
Published online Apr 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i15.4263
Anti-EGFR and anti-VEGF agents: Important targeted therapies of colorectal liver metastases
Qing-Yang Feng, Ye Wei, Jing-Wen Chen, Wen-Ju Chang, Le-Chi Ye, De-Xiang Zhu, Jian-Min Xu
Qing-Yang Feng, Ye Wei, Jing-Wen Chen, Wen-Ju Chang, Le-Chi Ye, De-Xiang Zhu, Jian-Min Xu, Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Author contributions: Feng QY and Wei Y wrote the paper; Chen JW, Chang WJ, Ye LC and Zhu DX assisted with data collection, proofreading and in other ways; Xu JM was the invited author and established the theme of this paper; all authors discussed the opinions expressed in this article.
Correspondence to: Jian-Min Xu, MD, PhD, Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China. xujmin@aliyun.com
Telephone: +86-21-64038038 Fax: + 86-21-64038038
Received: September 26, 2013
Revised: February 7, 2014
Accepted: February 20, 2014
Published online: April 21, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Targeted therapy is becoming standard for patients with colorectal liver metastases, but new findings continue to improve our understanding of these therapies. “New”RAS mutations, rather than the Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene G13D mutation, may be predictive of non-responsiveness to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy. The regimen of cetuximab plus FOLFOX is likely effective, but bevacizumab plus oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy remains controversial. Bevacizumab was suggested to be unsuitable for conversion therapy. Further confirmation is required to demonstrate the effectiveness of targeted therapy as a pre- or postoperative treatment. Combination therapy with more than one targeted agent is not recommended.