![]() | KAWASAKI NaohitoDepartment of Pharmacy Professor/Assistant Dean |
Cetuximab (Cmab) is known to cause electrolyte abnormalities, including hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia, and hypocalcemia. However, little is known about differences in these electrolyte levels between hypomagnesemia and non-hypomagnesemia group in patients receiving Cmab. Therefore, the aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between these serum electrolyte levels in patients undergoing Cmab therapy. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate patients for advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer and head and neck cancer, treated with a regimen composed of Cmab from 2012 to 2020 at the Kindai University Nara Hospital. A total of 113 patients were identified from the medical records, and 24 patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. In the non-hypomagnesemia group, significant positively correlations were observed between calcium and potassium (p = 0.018), between potassium and magnesium (p = 0.008), and between magnesium and calcium (p = 0.038). Simultaneously, in the hypomagnesemia group, no statistically significant correlations were recorded between these electrolytes. The incidences of hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypocalcemia were 25.0% (6/24), 29.2% (7/24), and 25.0% (6/24), respectively. Additionally, the onset of hypokalemia was significantly associated with the onset of hypocalcemia (p = 0.009). These data suggest that it is important to monitor these electrolyte levels, especially in patients who received Cmab with combination therapy.
Liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) causes renal dysfunction and hypokalemia, but little is known about the relationship between serum electrolyte levels before or after administration and renal dysfunction. The changes in serum electrolyte levels before and after administration in patients with L-AMB-induced renal dysfunction were examined. This study included 87 patients administered L-AMB at Kindai University Nara Hospital. The number of patients with G1 (serum creatinine (Scr) levels (mg/dL) > 1.07–1.605 in male and > 0.79–1.185 in female) and G2 (Scr level > 1.605–3.21 in male and > 1.185–2.37 in female) was 25 (28.7%) and 14 (16.1%), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed the onset of G2 was significantly associated with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), odds ratio (OR): 0.99, 95% confidential interval (95% CI): 0.95–1.02 and, baseline serum potassium levels, OR: 3.50, 95% CI: 1.16–12.06. Serum potassium levels were significantly higher in the G2 group than in the G0 group (Scr levels < 1.07 in male and < 0.79 in female) during the study period. These results indicated the changes in serum potassium levels are associated with renal dysfunction. Monitoring of serum potassium levels before and after administration may contribute to the evaluation of renal dysfunction in patients receiving L-AMB.
Stimulation of vascular endothelial cell proliferation by Zn-12 can be mediated by the ERK1/2 activation independently of the FGF-2-FGFR pathway. Additionally, there may be other pathways involved in the Zn-12 stimulation.