The oncologist
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Novel targeted agents increase the therapeutic armamentarium in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Monoclonal antibodies against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are active against EGFR-expressing mCRC that is refractory to irinotecan. EGFR monoclonal antibodies also have promise in less advanced stages of CRC. ⋯ The management of toxicity (particularly rash) and finding appropriate means of selecting patients pose additional challenges. While the occurrence of rash is associated with greater likelihood of response, EGFR staining by immunohistochemistry at baseline is not. For reasons that are not yet clear, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors of EGFR seem less effective than their monoclonal antibody counterparts in the therapy of mCRC.