skip to main content

CRC Sidedness — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

HardGI CancersCRC SidednessSCE Medical Oncology

A 60-year-old man with mCRC asks about primary tumour sidedness. Left-sided RAS WT CRC has significantly better OS. What guides biologic selection?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: CPrefer an anti-EGFR strategy for fit left-sided all-RAS-wild-type disease

Primary sidedness and complete RAS status support an anti-EGFR plus chemotherapy strategy in fit left-sided all-RAS-wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. Prefer an anti-EGFR strategy for fit right-sided all-RAS-wild-type disease: right-sided primary location predicts less first-line benefit from anti-EGFR treatment. Prefer bevacizumab for fit left-sided all-RAS-wild-type disease: bevacizumab is active, but left-sided all-RAS wild type is the setting favouring anti-EGFR selection. Prefer an anti-EGFR strategy for fit left-sided KRAS-exon-two-wild-type disease: extended KRAS and NRAS wild-type status is required, not exon two alone. Prefer anti-EGFR monotherapy for fit left-sided all-RAS-wild-type disease: fit first-line patients generally receive the antibody with a chemotherapy doublet.

Reference: Primary-tumour side as a driver of first-line treatment in RAS-wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (Published April 2023): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36913832/; Erbitux UK summary of product characteristics (Updated September 2025): https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/317/smpc