Open AccessRefractory hypokalemia caused by cetuximab with advanced colorectal cancer patients: the case series and literature review
Author(s) -
Yun-Wang Chen,
Min Yang,
Mingxing Wang,
Jiahong Jiang,
Dingyi Jiang,
Zheling Chen,
Lei Yang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
anti-cancer drugs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1473-5741
pISSN - 0959-4973
DOI - 10.1097/cad.0000000000001212
Subject(s) - cetuximab , hypokalemia , hypomagnesemia , medicine , refractory (planetary science) , colorectal cancer , cancer , gastroenterology , oncology , chemistry , magnesium , physics , organic chemistry , astrobiology
Cetuximab is the first-line treatment for advanced metastatic colon cancer. But cetuximab can cause electrolyte disturbances, including hypomagnesemia and hypokalemia. Among them, hypokalemia is often caused by hypomagnesemia, not directly caused by cetuximab. This article reports two cases of refractory hypokalemia caused by cetuximab without hypomagnesemia. The two patients had no abnormalities in serum potassium before cetuximab treatment. The occurrence of hypokalemia was clearly correlated with the cetuximab, and they were significantly improved after stopping or reducing the dose. At the same time, the appearance of hypokalemia is significantly related to the efficacy of cetuximab. They have received 37 and 35 cycles of cetuximab-related therapy, with condition stable periods of 12.8 and 15.1 months, respectively. Obviously, our report refutes the above view. In our opinion, hypokalemia, a side effect of cetuximab, may be directly caused by it, rather than secondary to hypomagnesemia. Similar to hypomagnesemia, the appearance of hypokalemia often indicates a better curative effect of cetuximab.