Targeted Therapy for Colorectal Cancer
Targeted therapy uses drugs to target specific changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide, and spread. Targeted therapy drugs are designed to be more precise. They fight cancer cells while causing less harm to other cells in the body.
These are the latest targeted therapies available to treat colorectal cancer (CRC). New treatments become available all the time, so this may not be a complete list.
Please note: The side effects listed here do not represent a comprehensive list. It's important to discuss all potential side effects of a drug with your healthcare team. Be sure to tell your healthcare team about any side effects you do have.
All Available Treatments
Intravenous = 
Pill = 
Treatment Type
Monoclonal Antibody
Drug Names
Potential Severe Side Effects - Vectibex
Skin/nail changes
Potential Side Effects - All Drugs
Constipation
Diarrhea
Eye problems
Fatigue/weakness
Fertility issues
Joint pain/stiffness
Mouth/throat changes
Muscle pain
Nausea/vomiting
Skin/nail changes
Weight/appetite changes
Potential Side Effects - Erbitux Only
Adverse drug reaction
Emotional or cognitive changes
Hair thinning/loss
Headache
Heartburn
Neuropathy
Important Things to Know - All Drugs
- This medication can be used alone or in combination with other chemotherapies.
- May cause trouble sleeping (insomnia), dizziness, and upper respiratory symptoms (stuffy/runny nose)
Important Things to Know - Erbitux:
- This medication may cause severe or life-threatening reactions. Talk to your doctor before receiving this medicine if you are allergic to red meat or have ever been bitten by a tick.
- Talk to your doctor if you’ve ever had heart problems (like heart failure) or radiation therapy near the head or neck area.
- Used to treat CRC that has spread to other parts of the body.
Important Things to Know - Cyramza:
- This medication is used for CRC that has spread to other parts of the body.
- Used with Folfiri® (a combination chemotherapy made from Leucovorin Calcium, Fluorouracil, and Irinotecan Hydrochloride) to treat patients whose CRC has gotten worse during or after treatment with bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, and a fluoropyrimidine (a combination chemotherapy drug including 5FU/5-fluorouracil and Xeloda®/capecitabine).
Important Things to Know - Vectibix:
- This drug can lead to skin reactions, and some may be severe. These severe skin reactions can lead to life-threating infections.
- Used to treat CRC that has spread to other parts of the body during or after treatment with other chemotherapy drugs.
- May lead to hair growth, particularly eyelashes.
Treatment Type
Kinase Inhibitors
Drug Names
Potential Side Effects
Constipation
Fatigue/weakness
Fever
Headache
Joint pain/stiffness
Mouth/throat changes
Muscle pain
Nausea/vomiting
Neuropathy
Skin/nail changes
Weight/appetite changes
Potential Side Effects - Fruzaqla
Abnormal lab tests
Adverse drug reaction
Blood pressure changes
Diarrhea
Infections
Nausea/vomiting
Important Things to Know
- Used to treat CRC that cannot be removed with surgery or has spread to other areas of the body.
- Can be used with other therapies to treat people with CRC that has spread and not gotten better with other treatments.
- Tukysa - Used to treat CRC that has HER2 amplification and the wild-type RAS gene.
- Tukysa - May lead to feelings of anxiety.
- Tukysa- Can lead to flu-like symptoms including chills, cough, and shortness of breath.