The efficacy and safety of anti-EGFR target agents in patients with potentially resectable metastatic colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND: Adding anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) target agents to conversion therapy may improve the resection rates and survival of patients with potentially resectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This study aims to analyze the efficacy and safety of additional anti-EGFR target agents. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library. And all relevant studies published in English before January 2023 were collected to explore the impact of additional anti-EGFR targeted agent on the efficacy and safety of patients with potentially resectable mCRC (PROSPERO: CRD42022340523, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/). RESULTS: This study included a total of 8 articles, including 2618 patients. The overall response rate (ORR) and R0 resection rates of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group, while there was no significant difference in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between the two groups. In RAS/KRAS wild-type patients, the ORR (RR: 1.20, 95% Cl: 1.02–1.41, p = 0.03), R0 resection rate (RR: 1.60, 95% Cl: 1.17–2.20, p = 0.003), PFS (HR: 0.80, 95% Cl: 0.68–0.93, p = 0.003), and OS (HR: 0.87, 95% Cl: 0.76–0.99, p = 0.031) of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group. While in KRAS mutant patients, there was no statistical difference between the two groups in ORR, R0 resection rate, PFS, and OS. CONCLUSION: The addition of anti-EGFR targeted agents can improve the prognosis of RAS/KRAS wild-type patients with potentially resectable mCRC, while KRAS mutant patients may not benefit. In addition, the overall safety factor was controllable. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-023-03222-3.