The Relief of Nociceptive Pain Induced by Panitumumab Could be Sustainable during Chemotherapy

Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which are molecular-targeted drugs used in cancer treatment, are suspected to have analgesic effects on cancer-related pain. The relieving effect of EGFR inhibitors on neuropathic pain has been described to persist for approximately 20 days in patients with colorectal cancer. Since the administration of panitumumab, ananti-EGFR antibody, is repeated every 14 days, its relieving effect on cancer-related pain should be maintained until the next administration. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the chronological changes in symptoms before and two and 14 days after administration. A retrospective study using electrical patient charts demonstrated that the analgesic effects of panitumumab sustained in 8 out of ten patients with colorectal cancer (80%) until the start of next cycle of chemotherapy. The relief of nociceptive pain can be maintained in most of the patients during chemotherapy by repeated use of this agent, once pain relief has been achieved.