There are only limited data on the safety and efficacy of panitumumab in patients who experienced severe infusion reactions during cetuximab antibody therapy.
Case report
We report the case of a 69-year-old woman with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer who received single-agent cetuximab treatment but experienced a severe reaction during the first infusion, despite premedication with corticosteroids/antihistamines. Cetuximab was discontinued and treatment with panitumumab initiated approximately 14 days later (without premedication); no infusion reactions occurred and there was a rapid improvement in her general condition. She experienced a partial response that was sustained for 7 months before progression.
Conclusions
This case supports the use of panitumumab in patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer and suggests that panitumumab may be used in some patients with prior infusion reactions to cetuximab.
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