Pathological complete response to mFOLFOX6 plus cetuximab therapy for unresectable colon cancer with multiple paraaortic lymph node metastases

Pathological complete response is achievable with mFOLFOX6 plus cetuximab therapy for unresectable colorectal cancer with multiple paraaortic lymph node metastases (mCRC) despite right-sided colonic origin. A 62-year-old woman with synchronous paraaortic lymph node metastases of transverse colon cancer was treated with mFOLFOX6 plus cetuximab as first-line therapy. The tumor size was markedly decreased following 6 courses of chemotherapy, and all lymph node metastases had disappeared. The patient then underwent conventional right hemicolectomy with D3 lymph node dissection plus sampling excision of the paraaortic lymph nodes. The pathological diagnosis was a complete response. The patient is currently alive 5 years after surgery with no signs of recurrence. The present study reported the apparent effectiveness of conversion therapy (surgery) with combination treatment with mFOLFOX6 plus cetuximab and radical surgery. We hypothesized that patients with different types of mCRC of right-sided colon origin may be effectively treated with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies.