Each data point represents the baseline serum magnesium and the lowest serum magnesium levels during the treatment period. with oral supplementation with more tolerant oral magnesium products may help improve the treatment end result in these individuals. Surprisingly, more than half of these individuals showed significant decreases in their albumin levels, which were correlated with the initiation or discontinuation of anti-EGFR therapy. The underlying mechanism of this Polygalaxanthone III decrease in albumin level is not known. The improved probability of poor results such as mortality, morbidity and continuous hospital stay in acutely ill individuals with hypoalbuminemia is definitely well recognized. Moreover, the maintenance of adequate serum albumin levels in these individuals receiving anti-EGFR therapy may play an important role in comprising some of the adverse effects of concurrently given chemotherapeutic providers. originally reported the event and clinical course of hypomagnesemia in 34 of 154 individuals who have been treated with cetuximab in their institution (8). Out of 154 individuals, 10 experienced grade 3 or 4 4 hypomagnesemia. Hypomagnesemia was also reported in 38% individuals treated with panitumumab, with grade 3 and 4 hypomagnesemia happening in 3% of those treated with panitumumab (9). Fakih prospectively measured magnesium concentrations inside a cohort of 98 individuals treated with EGFR-targeting antibodies with or without combined chemotherapy (10). Ninety-seven percent of the individuals experienced reducing serum magnesium concentrations VRP during EGFR-targeting treatment compared to baseline measurements. The mean serum magnesium slope during EGFR-targeting treatment (with or without combined chemotherapy) was significantly lower compared to chemotherapy only. In the present study, we targeted to retrospectively assess the event of electrolyte depletion in individuals treated with cetuximab or panitumumab with or without combined chemotherapy. Moreover, we targeted to compare the electrolytic changes caused by these two agents as well as to track any noticeable changes in other routine laboratory guidelines in these individuals. Materials and methods A study proposal was made to the Institutional Review Table of M.D. Anderson Malignancy Center Orlando, and a waiver of authorization was acquired before initiating the study. Data from records of all individuals who received treatment with cetuximab or panitumumab in the M.D. Anderson Malignancy Center Orlando between January 1, 2007 and January 1, 2008 were examined. The data collection method consisted of reviewing the records of the individuals identified from the two patient database systems used in this institution (Sunrise XA and HBOC data foundation). Patient-specific data were securely de-identified and came into into a expert important log for analysis. The parameters collected included the dose, route and day of drug given, and various laboratory guidelines including hematology and blood chemistry. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS?. Polygalaxanthone III Results During the study period, 58 individuals received treatment with cetuximab, with or without combined chemotherapy, of which approximately 1/3 experienced head and neck tumor; the rest were treated for colorectal malignancy. Twenty-one individuals received panitumumab; all experienced colorectal cancer. The treatment duration spanned from just over 2 weeks to more than 1 yr. Of the 58 individuals who received cetuximab, 32 experienced varying marks Polygalaxanthone III of hypomagnesemia during the treatment period. Of these individuals, 28 experienced grade 1 hypomagnesemia ( 1.7C1.2 mg/dl), 3 had grade 2 ( 1.2C0.9 mg/dl) and 1 had grade 3 hypomagnesemia ( 0.9C0.7 mg/dl). The slopes of the linear tendency lines linking the serum magnesium levels in Polygalaxanthone III these individuals were almost specifically bad (Fig. 1). There were few individuals whose magnesium levels were not monitored. Thirty-eight individuals showed some marks of decrease in blood calcium level, of which 5 experienced grade 2 and the remaining grade 1 hypocalcemia. Open in a separate window Number 1. Changes in serum magnesium after commencing cetuximab therapy in individuals. Each data point represents the.