Cetuximab therapy and symptomatic hypomagnesemia.

Abstract

We report that patients treated with cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody against the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), occasionally develop a magnesium wasting syndrome with inappropriate urinary excretion. We first observed this phenomenon in a 34-year-old male patient with metastatic colorectal cancer who developed profound fatigue and symptomatic hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia while on cetuximab plus irinotecan therapy. Other medications with the potential to cause magnesium wasting had not been administered. Intravenous magnesium supplementation was required for the duration of cetuximab therapy, but electrolyte abnormalities resolved after discontinuation of treatment. This case prompted review of serum chemistry reports for a consecutive case series of 154 colorectal cancer patients treated with cetuximab. Thirty-four patients (22%) had at least one serum magnesium measurement during cetuximab treatment, and six had grade 3 (< 0.9 mg/dL) and two had grade 4 (< 0.7 mg/dL) hypomagnesemia. Because EGFR is strongly expressed in the kidney, particularly in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle where 70% of filtered magnesium is reabsorbed, EGFR blockade may interfere with magnesium transport. Because symptoms may be rapidly ameliorated with supplementation, we suggest that, when fatigue or hypocalcemia is encountered during cetuximab therapy, serum magnesium level be measured and repleted as necessary.

• Authors: Deborah Schrag, Ki Young Chung, Carlos Flombaum, Leonard Saltz
• Journal: Journal of the National Cancer Institute (J Natl Cancer Inst) Vol. 97 Issue 16 Pg. 1221-4 (Aug 17 2005) ISSN: 1460-2105 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 16106027 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Irinotecan
• ErbB Receptors
• Magnesium
• Cetuximab
• Camptothecin

Topics

• Adult
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (adverse effects)
• Camptothecin (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
• Cetuximab
• Colorectal Neoplasms (blood, drug therapy, metabolism)
• ErbB Receptors (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Fatigue (etiology)
• Humans
• Hypocalcemia (chemically induced, complications)
• Incidence
• Irinotecan
• Magnesium (blood)
• Magnesium Deficiency (chemically induced, complications)
• Male
• Severity of Illness Index