Dr. Vulfovich on Molecular Testing in Colorectal Cancer

Michel Vulfovich, MD, medical director, Sickle Cell Disease and Gynecology Oncology programs, Memorial Healthcare System, discusses molecular testing in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Standard frontline practice for CRC is to put the majority of patients on chemotherapy with either FOLFOX or CAPOX plus or minus bevacizumab (Avastin), explains Vulfovich. If a patient has a KRAS wild-type mutation, they will receive cetuximab (Erbitux) or panitumumab (Vectibix).

Molecular testing is more commonly looked into for second-, third-, and fourth-line treatment, says Vulfovich. Mutations such as BRAF and HER2 have implications for prognosis. For some patients, this information is beneficial in the frontline setting; however, sometimes, even if a patient has a KRAS wild-type mutation, the mutation should not be addressed in treatment, concludes Vulfovich.