Hypomagnesemia and clinical benefits of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies in wild-type KRAS metastatic colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sci Rep. 2018 Feb 1;8(1):2047. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-19835-8.

Abstract

Hypomagnesemia is a recognized side-effect of cetuximab- or panitumumab-based chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The clinical relevance of hypomagnesemia is under debate. Thus, a systematic review and meta-analysis of retrospective studies and randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing hypomagnesemia with normal magnesium levels in wild-type KRAS mCRC was performed. One RCT, two retrospective studies, and two American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) conference presentations from phase III RCTs involving 1723 patients were included in this study. Patients with hypomagnesemia demonstrated better progression-free survival (PFS) (Hazard ratio [HR]: 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.47-0.88), overall survival (OS) (HR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.53-0.92), and objective response rate (ORR) (Risk ratio [RR]: 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-2.52). By subgroup analysis, frontline, later lines or combination therapy with hypomagnesemia were associated with PFS benefits (HR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.62-0.98; HR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.40-0.90; HR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.41-0.94, respectively). In patients with wild-type KRAS mCRC, hypomagnesemia is associated with better clinical benefits of PFS, OS and ORR when treated with cetuximab- or panitumumab-based chemotherapy. Future clinical trials should corroborate its predictive role.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use
  • Cetuximab / adverse effects*
  • Cetuximab / therapeutic use
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnesium / blood*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Panitumumab
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • KRAS protein, human
  • Panitumumab
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • Magnesium
  • Cetuximab