Researchers uncover reasons for patients' adverse reactions to Cetuximab

Patient's Adverse Reactions to Cetuximab Explained

Researchers have uncovered why some patients are having severe adverse reactions to the cancer drug Cetuximab. Experiments have shown that particular pre-existing antibodies found in the patients are the reasons for problems. Curiously, a geographic pattern was found.

22 percent of the cancer patients who were treated with Cetuximab in North Carolina and Tennessee had a life-threatening reaction, also known as an anaphylactic response. However, less than one percent of patients residing in the Northeast region of the U.S. experienced the same results.

Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills, of the University of Virginia, explained his discovery by saying in a statement that "because of the widespread use of Cetuximab in cancer treatment, it may be useful to pre-screen patients for specific IgE antibodies to Cetuximab to identify those who are at risk for serious adverse reactions, including anaphylaxis."

Dr. Platts-Mills' study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, evaluated 76 cancer patients. Out of that sample, 25 developed hypersensitivity reactions to the drug and 18 of the 25 individuals had a positive reaction for IgE antibodies to the medicine.

Cetuximab is a mouse monoclonal antibody that is partially humanized. Produced by a single cell line, it guards against a specific protein and hinders the growth factor receptor found on the surface of he cell. This controls the growth of the cancer cells, said Platts-Mills.

"These intriguing research findings not only are potentially important to physicians treating certain cancer patients, but also may have broader implications for the use of immunotherapies for other diseases," noted Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Researchers involved in the study are still trying to understand why there is such a large geographical discrepancy in the results of the tests.

News

Resources

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here

If you would like to receive a FREE information packet or have questions about mesothelioma, call us at:

Toll-Free 1-877-367-6376