Target tyrosine kinases / Inhibit EGFR / Toxicity
Drugs that target EGFR: CETUXIMAB/PANITUMUMAB, ERLOTINIB/GEFITINIB, LAPATINIB
Toxicity
CETUXIMAB/PANITUMUMAB
- have the side effects that are common to antibodies, including:
- infusion/hypersensitivity reactions: fever, muscle aches, headaches, rashes, anaphylaxis, infusion reactions
- infections
- unknown effects on immunization, carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, impairment of fertility, pregnancy, nursing infants (human IgG is secreted in milk)
- unique toxicities include skin (rash, photosensitivity, necrotizing fascitis) and lung (interstitial lung disease)
ERLOTINIB/GEFITINIB
- as with other STIs, relatively minor side effects (esp. compared to conventional therapies that work by preventing rapid cell growth): nausea, vomiting, fatigue, myalgia, diarrhea, skin rashes and acne, drug interactions
- can cause congestive heart failure and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (causing shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue) and/or myocardial infarction (less likely than with STIs that inhibit Bcr-Abl)
- teratogenic
- interstitial pneumonia (which can be fatal)