Systematic review on infusion reactions associated with chemotherapies and monoclonal antibodies for metastatic colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this systematic review is to summarize the literature to date on the rates of infusion reactions (IR) associated with chemotherapies and monoclonal antibody (mAb) drug therapies used for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and the associated clinical and economic impact.


METHODS
This study searched Medline, Medline (R) In-Process, Embase and Cochrane Library databases for studies on IRs associated with chemotherapy and mAbs in mCRC patients from 2000-2011.


RESULTS
For chemotherapy, the incidence of IRs ranged from 0-71% for all grades and 0-15% for grade 3-4. Rates of all grade IRs associated with cetuximab ranged from 7.6-33% and grade 3-4 IR rates were 0-22%. Rates of all grade IRs associated with panitumumab ranged from 0-4% and rates of grade 3-4 IRs ranged from 0-1%. The overall rate of IRs associated with bevacizumab ranged from 1.6-11%, with a rate of 0-4% for grade 3-4 IRs. A range of 50-100% of patients with grade 3-4 IRs terminated chemotherapy, and 34-100% of cetuximab patients with grade 3-4 IRs discontinued cetuximab therapy. No data were reported for bevacizumab or panitumumab. Only one study evaluated the economic impact of IRs. The study compared cetuximab administrations without an IR to those with an IR requiring resource utilization and found that mean costs were $9308 and $1725 higher for those with an IR requiring an emergency room visit or hospitalization and for those with an IR requiring outpatient treatment, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of IRs varies among different mAbs; and IRs may cause treatment disruption and require costly medical interventions.
Thomson Reuters, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA. xue.song@thomsonreuters.com
Xue
X
Song
Stacey R
SR
Long
Beth
B
Barber
Cheryl A
CA
Kassed
Marcus
M
Healey
Clare
C
Jones
Zhongyun
Z
Zhao
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents