{
  "abstract": "Background/Objectives: Resection is the treatment goal in unresectable liver-limited metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Anti-VEGF and anti-EGFR antibodies are effective in RAS wild-type mCRC, but the better option for conversion is unclear. We compared their efficacy and tolerability as first-line treatment. Methods: In this prospective, single-centre cohort study, patients with RAS-wild-type mCRC and unresectable liver metastases received cetuximab or panitumumab (anti-EGFR) or bevacizumab (anti-VEGF) with FOLFOX or FOLFIRI. We compared the overall response rate (ORR), depth of response (DoR), resection rate (RR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and toxicity, using Cox regression adjusted for baseline covariates. Results: Of 101 patients, 51 received anti-EGFR therapy and 50 bevacizumab. Anti-EGFR therapy achieved a higher ORR (70.6% vs. 50.0%; p = 0.034), deeper response (47.2% vs. 33.7%; p = 0.004) and higher RR (66.7% vs. 46.0%; p = 0.036). The median PFS was longer (12.1 vs. 8.5 months; adjusted HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.29–0.78; p = 0.003), whereas the median OS did not differ significantly (30.4 vs. 25.5 months; p = 0.382). Grade 3/4 toxicity was similar (35.3% vs. 22.0%; p = 0.187). Conclusions: Anti-EGFR therapy was associated with higher response and resection rates and longer PFS and may be considered when conversion is the aim; these single-centre, non-randomised findings require confirmation in randomised studies.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Oncology, Medical Faculty, University of Nis, Dr Zoran Djindjic Boulevard 81, 18108 Nis, Serbia",
    "Clinic of Oncology, University Clinical Centre of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia",
    "Department of Surgery, Medical Faculty, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia",
    "Clinic for Digestive Surgery, University Clinical Centre of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia",
    "Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia",
    "Clinic for Medical Oncology, Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, 21204 Sremska Kamenica, Serbia",
    "Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia",
    "Centre for Medical Oncology, University Clinical Centre of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia",
    "Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Miljana Džunić"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ivan Petković",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9110-4117"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ana Cvetanović"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Miroslav Stojanović"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Ivan Nikolić"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Marina Marković"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Irena Conić"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        8
      ],
      "name": "Dane Krtinić"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/45babbj5sr9js.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/cancers18213489",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "45babbj5sr9js",
  "issns": [
    "2072-6694"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/21/3489",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-29",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/45babbj5sr9js.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:58Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/cancers18213489",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/21/3489"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "issn:2072-6694",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "The Optimal Biological Therapy for Conversion in Patients with RAS-Wild-Type Colorectal Cancer and Unresectable Liver Metastases",
  "title_text": "The Optimal Biological Therapy for Conversion in Patients with RAS-Wild-Type Colorectal Cancer and Unresectable Liver Metastases",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-31T00:21:06Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/45babbj5sr9js",
  "venue": "Cancers",
  "versions": []
}