Correlations between serum cetuximab and EGFR-related markers, and skin disorders in head and neck cancer patients.
Cancer Chemother Pharmacol
; 87(4): 555-565, 2021 04.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33462734
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Cetuximab inhibits epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in cancer and skin cells, thereby inducing anti-cancer effects and skin disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationships between serum cetuximab and EGFR-related markers, and adverse effects in head and neck cancer patients.METHODS:
Thirty-four head and neck cancer patients receiving weekly intravenous cetuximab were enrolled. Serum cetuximab levels were determined just before dosing. Blood samples for determination of serum EGFR-related markers including soluble epidermal growth factor receptor (sEGFR) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were obtained. The severities of skin disorders, their medications, and hypomagnesemia treatment were also assessed.RESULTS:
Serum levels of cetuximab and sEGFR were negatively and positively correlated with that of IL-6, respectively. The serum cetuximab level was twofold higher in the patients with a grade 2-3 skin rash than with a grade 0-1 rash. The serum cetuximab cutoff value related to severe skin rash was 71 µg/mL (sensitivity, 59%; and specificity, 94%). The use of a strong topical corticosteroid for skin rash was also associated with a higher serum cetuximab level. Serum levels of sEGFR and IL-6 had no correlations with the skin disorder severities or their medications. Hypomagnesemia treatment using intravenous magnesium sulfate was not related to serum cetuximab and EGFR-related markers.CONCLUSIONS:
Head and neck cancer patients with a higher serum IL-6 level tended to have a lower serum cetuximab level. Serum cetuximab had positive correlations to skin rash severity and its medication in the study population.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Skin Diseases
/
Cetuximab
/
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Cancer Chemother Pharmacol
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Japan