Published online Jun 15, 2024. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i6.2362
Peer-review started: December 7, 2023
First decision: February 6, 2024
Revised: February 13, 2024
Accepted: April 1, 2024
Article in press: April 1, 2024
Published online: June 15, 2024
Processing time: 190 Days and 20.8 Hours
More than 1.9 million new colorectal cancer (CRC) cases and 935000 deaths were estimated to occur worldwide in 2020, representing about one in ten cancer cases and deaths. Overall, colorectal ranks third in incidence, but second in mortality. More than half of the patients are in advanced stages at diagnosis. Treatment options are complex because of the heterogeneity of the patient population, including different molecular subtypes. Treatments have included conventional fluorouracil-based chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, etc. In recent years, with the development of genetic testing technology, more and more targeted drugs have been applied to the treatment of CRC, which has further prolonged the survival of metastatic CRC patients.
Core Tip: This review focuses on therapies targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway in metastatic colorectal cancer, mainly including: (1) Treatment targeting rat sarcoma (RAS) status, including RAS wild type, maintenance therapy with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, anti-EGFR re-challenge therapy, treatment targeting NoeRAS and Kirsten RAS viral oncogene G12C mutations; (2) treatment for patients with B-type RAF mutations; and (3) treatment targeting human EGFR2 amplification or overexpression.