title: Assessment of frequency and severity of hypomagnesemia in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with cetuximab, with a review of the literature.
abstract: Currently, there are a few systemic treatment options for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Targeted therapy used in this setting includes the use of monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab or panitumumab, directed against epidermal growth factor receptor. The aim of the present study was to estimate the frequency and severity of hypomagnesemia among patients with mCRC treated with cetuximab. The data from the Department of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital of Krakow (Krakow, Poland), concerning 52 patients treated between 2009 and 2013 were collected. Of these, 27 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria to enter this retrospective study. The National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 were used to grade the level of hypomagnesemia. In total, 29.6% of all patients experienced hypomagnesemia during treatment, and the majority of cases were grade 1 (22.2%). There was no statistically significant correlation between magnesium (Mg) level and patient age, duration of treatment, localization of primary tumor or metastases, and the number of metastases. However, there was an upward trend in a logistic regression model showing that the risk of developing hypomagnesemia increases with age. Hypomagnesemia is a frequent problem among mCRC patients receiving cetuximab. It is essential to introduce guidelines regarding the monitoring of the Mg level and its supplementation in this group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków 31-008, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Streb
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków 31-008, Poland.
authors.forename: Miroslawa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Püsküllüoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków 31-008, Poland.
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Glanowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków 31-008, Poland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ochenduszko
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków 31-008, Poland.
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konopka
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków 31-008, Poland.
authors.forename: Radoslaw
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Łupkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków 31-008, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michalowska-Kaczmarczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Therapy, St. Luke's Hospital, Tarnów 33-100, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bochenek-Cibor
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation, Polish-American Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków 31-008, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majka
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków 31-008, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krzemieniecki
keywords: cetuximab; colorectal cancer; epidermal growth factor receptor; hypomagnesemia; metastases