Background: Hypomagnesemia is a common adverse event during cetuximab (Cmab) treatment. However, few reports have investigated the incidence and risk factors of hypomagnesemia in head and neck cancer patients treated with Cmab.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 131 head and neck cancer patients who received Cmab-containing therapy. Main eligibility criteria were ≥3 Cmab administrations, no prior EGFR-directed therapy, and no prophylactic Mg supplementation.
Results: Median baseline serum Mg level and number of Cmab administrations were 2.2 mg/dl and 8, respectively. Overall incidence of hypomagnesemia was 50.4% (grade 1, 46.6%; grade 2, 3.1%; grade 3, 0%; and grade 4, 0.8%) and differed between patients treated with palliative chemotherapy and bioradiation (Cmab and radiation) (63 versus 24%; P < 0.01). Independent risk factors were low baseline serum Mg [odds ratio (OR) 161.988, 95% confidence interval (CI) 9.436-2780.895], ≥7 Cmab administrations (OR 3.56, 95% CI 1.16-13.98), and concurrent administration of platinum (cisplatin; OR 23.695, 95% CI 5.219-107.574, carboplatin; OR 5.487, 95% CI 1.831-16.439). Respective incidence of hypomagnesemia in patients in high- (concurrent platinum and ≥7 Cmab administrations) and low-risk (no concurrent platinum and <7 Cmab administrations) groups was 66.0 and 6.6% (P < 0.001, OR 28.0).
Conclusion: Cmab is associated with a significant risk of hypomagnesemia in patients with head and neck cancer with longer term administration and concurrent platinum therapy. High-risk patients should be treated with particular care.
Keywords: cetuximab; chemotherapy; head and neck cancer; hypomagnesemia; radiotherapy; squamous cell carcinoma.