title: A rare but severe pulmonary side effect of cetuximab in two patients.
abstract: Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody that treats malignant disease by inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor. Many common adverse events have been reported and include skin rashes, infusion reactions, gastrointestinal complaints and headache. Up to now, cetuximab-associated pulmonary toxicity has been rarely reported in the literature. The present report describes two cases with probable interstitial pneumonitis 5-6 weeks after commencing treatment with chemotherapy combined with cetuximab. One patient recovered and the second patient died due to gastrointestinal bleeding 3 weeks after an initial response to steroids.
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. yvonne.achermann@gmail.com
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Achermann
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Frauenfelder
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Obrist
authors: Kathrin
authors: K
authors: Zaugg
authors: Natasha
authors: N
authors: Corti
authors: Huldrych F
authors: HF
authors: Günthard
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000068818:Cetuximab; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000068818:Cetuximab