Drug Eruption Associated with Cetuximab (Erbitux^®)

Abstract

Cetuximab is a new antineoplastic agent, that has been covered by National Health Insurance since September of 2008. It is used to treat colon/rectal cancer that is epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive and cannot be cured by resection. It is an antibody for EGFR that inhibits growth of the tumor and metastasis by competitively inhibiting binding of the ligand to EGFR. We experienced two cases of drug eruption that occurred after administration of the cetuximab for treatment of recurrent rectal cancer. Both patients developed acneiform eruptions on their face and back, which improved with externally applied steroid ointment. We also examined the onset frequency and onset time of drug eruptions in 18 patients given cetuximab in our hospital up to February of 2009. Because cetuximab, like other EGFR inhibitors such as gefitinib and erlotinib, frequently causes drug eruptions such as acneiform eruptions, dry skin, perionychia, and itching, it is important to determine the frequency, mechanisms, = and appropriate treatment of drug eruptions resulting from cetuximab.