Cancer drug.

A CANCER drug should become the first option for people whose disease has spread from the bowel to the liver, the health watchdog said.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) said cetuximab - also called Erbitux - can be used for people with bowel cancer which has spread if they meet strict criteria.

This includes if surgery to remove their bowel cancer has been carried out or is possible in the future. The spread must also only be in the liver and must not be able to be removed surgically before treatment. Nice said treatment with cetuximab should stop after 16 weeks and the person should be assessed to see if they can have surgery to remove the tumour in their liver.

Prof Peter Littlejohns, clinical and public health director at Nice, said: "This guidance means that those patients who meet these criteria will have a further treatment option."

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