Using the galactose-α-1,3-galactose enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to predict anaphylaxis in response to cetuximab

Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor with activity against head and neck cancer and colorectal cancer. Anaphylaxis in response to cetuximab is a significant clinical problem in the Southeastern United States with a grade 3/4 infusion reaction rate of 14%. Previous retrospective data have suggested that the presence of preformed immunoglobulin E antibodies against galactose-α-1,3-galactose in serum can predict anaphylaxis in response to cetuximab.

Sixty patients were prospectively screened as part of the entry criteria for a phase 2 study of neoadjuvant carboplatin, nab-paclitaxel, and cetuximab. Patients were recruited at 2 academic medical centers known to have high anaphylaxis rates: the University of North Carolina and Vanderbilt. Only patients with a negative laboratory result were treated on the clinical protocol.

No patient experienced anaphylaxis; the negative predictive value was thus 100%. Other than smoking history, the demographics were similar for assay-positive subjects and assay-negative subjects.

Subjects with a negative test result can be safely treated with cetuximab. Further research is required regarding the optimal cutoff for positivity and the positive predictive value. Cancer 2016;122:1697-701. © 2016 American Cancer Society.