Correlation of cetuximab-induced skin rash and outcomes of solid tumor patients treated with cetuximab: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the correlation between cetuximab-induced skin rash and outcomes of solid tumor patients treated with cetuximab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Eligible studies included phase I, II and III trials of patients with solid tumors on cetuximab; describing events of skin rash and correlating skin rash with overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) and/or overall response rate (ORR).

RESULTS:

Our search strategy yielded 409 potentially relevant citations on CETUXIMAB from Pubmed/Medline, CENTRAL Cochrane registry and ASCO meeting library. After exclusion of ineligible studies, a total of 13 clinical trials were considered eligible for the meta-analysis, including 4 phase III trials, 8 phase II trials and one phase I trial. The occurrence of cetuximab-induced rash in patients was highly associated with improvements in PFS (HR=0.74; 95% CI: 0.63-0.86, P<0.0002), OS (HR=0.60; 95% CI: 0.47-0.76, P<0.0001), and ORR (RR=1.51, 95% CI: 1.26-1.81, P<0.00001), as compared to patients without rash. Exploratory subgroup analysis showed no effect of tumor types on the RR of ORR.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our meta-analysis has demonstrated that cetuximab-induced rash is associated with a significantly improved OS, PFS and ORR. Cetuximab-induced skin rash may represent a prognostic factor in patients with advanced solid tumors.

• Authors: Omar Abdel-Rahman, Mona Fouad
• Journal: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology (Crit Rev Oncol Hematol) Vol. 93 Issue 2 Pg. 127-35 (Feb 2015) ISSN: 1879-0461 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 25139841 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review, Systematic Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Antineoplastic Agents
• EGFR protein, human
• ErbB Receptors
• Cetuximab

Topics

• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized (adverse effects)
• Antineoplastic Agents (adverse effects)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (diagnosis, drug therapy, mortality, pathology)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (diagnosis, drug therapy, mortality, pathology)
• Cetuximab
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Colorectal Neoplasms (diagnosis, drug therapy, mortality, pathology)
• ErbB Receptors (antagonists & inhibitors, genetics)
• Exanthema (chemically induced, diagnosis, pathology)
• Gene Expression
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (diagnosis, drug therapy, mortality, pathology)
• Humans
• Prognosis
• Severity of Illness Index
• Survival Analysis
• Treatment Outcome