# Volker Heinemann

Source: https://onco.cc/people/volker-heinemann/  
OnCo record `volker-heinemann` (Person). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Gastrointestinal oncologist who led FIRE-3, a key trial of cetuximab versus bevacizumab in colorectal cancer.

## Summary

Volker Heinemann is Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich at LMU Klinikum München and Professor of Medical Oncology. His specialisms are colorectal cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and anti-EGFR therapy. He led FIRE-3, the Lancet Oncology trial of FOLFIRI plus cetuximab versus FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab as first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer, a key comparison that shaped the use of anti-EGFR therapy according to tumour sidedness. His record links him to the CRYSTAL and FIRE-3 trials, and his publications are listed on PubMed.

## Fields

- Kind: Person
- Last checked: 2026-09-08
- Role: Director, Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich (LMU); Professor of Medical Oncology
- Specialisms: Colorectal cancer; Pancreatic cancer; Anti-EGFR therapy

## Sources

- PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Heinemann%20V%5BAuthor%5D%20FIRE-3

## Connected records

- cancers: [Colorectal cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/colorectal/), [Metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/metastatic-pdac/), [Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/pancreatic/)
- drugs: [Bevacizumab](https://onco.cc/drugs/bevacizumab/), [Cetuximab](https://onco.cc/drugs/cetuximab/)
- institutions: [LMU Klinikum München](https://onco.cc/institutions/lmu-munich/)
- trials: [CRYSTAL & FIRE-3](https://onco.cc/trials/crystal-fire3/)
- key papers: [FOLFIRI plus cetuximab versus FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (FIRE-3)](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-heinemann-fire-3-cetuximab-vs-bevacizumab-lancet-oncol-2014/), [Prognostic and predictive relevance of primary tumor location in patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer: retrospective analyses of the CRYSTAL and FIRE-3 trials](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-tejpar-tumour-location-crystal-fire3-jama-oncol-2017/), [Prognostic and predictive value of primary tumour side in patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy and EGFR directed antibodies in six randomized trials](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-arnold-primary-tumour-side-ras-wild-type-ann-oncol-2017/)

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