title: Hypersensitivity and tumor lysis syndrome associated with cetuximab treatment: should we be afraid?
abstract: The majority of the chemotherapy agents in use today cause various infusion reactions, from mild flushing to life-threatening events. The frequency of the reported hypersensitivity reactions induced by cetuximab varies between 3% and 22%. It is recommended in the literature to stop the infusion and replace cetuximab with panitumumab in case of hypersensitivity reactions observed during the treatment of colon cancer. Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) may occur in colorectal cancers with heavy tumor load. Tumor lysis syndrome may be life-threatening. In our patient with widespread bone and liver metastases, treatment continued with cetuximab as a combination therapy with irinotecan in spite of the hypersensitivity and TLS led to a complete treatment response. The complete response observed after 3 months through continued therapy in our patient may present an example supporting treatment with cetuximab in spite of severe reactions.
authors.affiliation: Okmeydani Research and Training Hospital, Medical Oncology Clinic, Istanbul - Turkey.
authors.forename: Sener
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cihan
authors.forename: Ajlan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atasoy
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Nalan Akgul
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Babacan
authors.forename: Tugba Fahriye
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Kos
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000068818:Cetuximab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015275:Tumor Lysis Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077146:Irinotecan; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002166:Camptothecin