Mucositis with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody in cancer patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The mucositis of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies was poorly understood. We conducted this systematic review to fully investigate the mucositis of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies in cancer patients.

Study design: EMBASE, MEDLINE and PubMed were searched for articles published till December 2017. The relevant randomized controlled trials in cancer patients treated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies were retrieved and the systematic evaluation was conducted.

Results: Thirty-six randomized controlled trials and 15,364 patients were included. The current meta-analysis suggests that the use of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies significantly increases the risk of developing all-grade (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.24-1.77; P < 0.0001) and high-grade mucositis (RR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.61-2.89; P < 0.00001). The relative risk of high-grade mucositis tended to be higher in colorectal cancer patients than non-colorectal cancer patients.

Conclusions: The available data suggested that the use of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies significantly increases the risk of developing mucositis. Physicians should be aware of mucositis and should monitor cancer patients when receiving anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies.