Considerable progress has been achieved in the medical therapy for metastasised colorectal cancer. The targeted application of already available as well as recently developed substances requires further evaluation by appropriate studies.

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e15566 Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether overexpression of c-MET or HER2 had an effect on the clinical-pathological parameters and / or the prognosis of gastric carcinoma, as well as a direct correlation among those parameters. Methods: 134 gastric resectates were archived between 2007-2012 and retrospectively examined for c-MET and HER2 expression via immunohistochemistry (IHC). The HER2 status IHC2 + was additionally verified by means of Chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH). Statistical data analysis was performed on the basis of the parameters acquired in the prospective multicentre observation study QCGC'07 / 09. Results: A total of 71 patients (53%) were found to express c-MET low and 63 patients (47%) expressed c-MET high, 122 patients (91%) were found to be HER2 negative and 12 persons (9%) were HER2 positive. C-MET high was significantly more pronounced in the Lauren intestinal type (63.8%, p = 0.001) and moderately to poorly differentiated tumour tissue (G2 50.9%, G3 43.9%, p = 0.038) as well es tissue with lymph vessel infiltration (L1 59.1%, p = 0.039). HER2 showed no significant effect on the clinical-pathological parameters. The median overall survival was shown to be shortened for the c-MET high-expressing (c-MET low 56 months, SD: ± 24.67; 95% CI: 7.65-104.36 vs. c-MET high 32 months, SD: ± (median-OS HER2 negative 38 months, SD: ± 14.11, 95% CI: 10.35-65, p = 0.839), and HER2 negative, 65, median-OS HER2 positive not reached, p = 0.305) patients. 8/134 resectates (5.97%, p = 0.135) were high and positive in both expression patterns, showing no significant difference to the OS (p = 0.393). Conclusions: In our studies, c-MET high or HER2 negative expression was associated with a poorer OS. However, no direct correlation between HER2 and c-MET could be demonstrated

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e15592 Background: Based on promising published data, this multicenter, phase II study was initiated to investigate a combined treatment using DC and cetuximab in the first-line setting for patients with gastric cancer. Methods: Patients aged 18–75 years with stage III (T4, nonresectable) or stage IV gastric cancer, ECOG performance status (PS) ≤2, and life expectancy ≥3 months were recruited to receive cetuximab (400 mg/m2 on day 1 then 250 mg/m2 q1w) and DC (D 75 mg/m2 and C 75 mg/m2; both as 1-h infusions on day 1 and then q3w). Treatment was stopped in the event of disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or consent withdrawal. Tumor staging was performed after cycle 3 and then every 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was overall response rate and secondary endpoints included time to progression, overall survival and toxicity. Planned accrual was 79 patients. A per-protocol interim response analysis was planned for the initial 20 evaluable patients. Results: Preliminary data are available for 30 patients; median age 64 [range: 40–73] years; median ECOG PS 1 [range: 0–2]; adenocarcinoma 87%. Median cycles administered were 3 [range: 1–14] and the median follow-up was 1.63 months. The overall response rate was 27.3% (complete response, n=1; partial response, n=5). Stable disease was observed in 10 patients, and disease progression in 6 patients. The most relevant NCI-CTC grade 3–4 hematologic events per patient were leukopenia and neutropenia (73%), anemia (13%), and febrile neutropenia (10%). Major grade 3–4 nonhematologic toxicities were nausea (30%), vomiting (20%), diarrhea (13%), acne (13%), and fatigue (13%). Conclusions: DC and cetuximab were well tolerated and resulted in promising response rates and a predictable toxicity profile. The study is ongoing. No significant financial relationships to disclose.