Race and albuterol premedication are risk factors for hypersensitivity reactions to cetuximab

20503 Background: Cetuximab (C-mab) is a recombinant (human/mouse) epidermal growth factor receptor antibody indicated for use in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and head and neck cancer (HNC). Serious grade 3–4 hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) to C-mab have been reported in the frequency of 0.5%-22%. The purpose of this paper is to study risk factors for HSR to C-mab at our institution. Methods: A retrospective record review was performed of serial patients treated with C-mab at the Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO for CRC from July 2004 to July 2006 and HNC from June 2005 to August 2007. HSR were defined as allergic reactions to C-mab and were graded 1–5 according to severity, based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0 (CTCAE). Data regarding demographics and premedication history was collected from patient charts. Results: Fifty-one patients (27 males and 24 females) with CRC and 50 patients (38 males and 12 females) with HNC treated with C-mab were identified and their ...