title: Aseptic meningitis: a rare side effect of cetuximab therapy.
abstract: Cetuximab, a chimeric IgG1 monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor, is indicated for the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer and recurrent or metastatic squamous cell cancer of the head and neck after failure of platinum-based therapy. The commonly reported side effects of cetuximab are infusion-related reactions, skin rash, fatigue, malaise and nausea. We report a case of aseptic meningitis developing as a rare side effect in a patient of stage IVB squamous maxillary cancer treated with cetuximab. To our knowledge, there have been very few cases of cetuximab-induced aseptic meningitis reported in literature. Clinicians should recognize that self-limiting aseptic meningitis can occur with administration of cetuximab. Our case report may serve as an additional reference for clinicians encountered with aseptic meningitis in the setting of using cetuximab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL 32256, USA. Madhu.Emani@jax.ufl.edu
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Emani
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Zaiden
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000068818:Cetuximab; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000068818:Cetuximab