Exacerbation of Wegener's granulomatosis following single administration of monoclonal antibody 17-1A (Panorex (R)) during adjuvant immunotherapy of colon cancer

Background: Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibody 17-1A (mAb 17-1A) has be en shown effective as an adjuvant treatment in UICC stage III colon carcino ma. Usually, severe side effects are infrequent with mAb 17-1A treatment. C ase Report: A 64-year-old man had a 18-month history of recurring arthralgi a, sinusitis, and conjunctivits. After curative resection of UICC stage Il colon cancer adjuvant treatment with mAb 17-1A was initiated. After the fir st administration (500 mg) the patient experienced an aggravation of the ab ove-mentioned symptoms which led to the diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatos is with multiorgan involvement. Under immunosuppressive therapy with cyclop hosphamide and prednisone, clinical stabilization could be achieved. Conclu sion:The exacerbation of Wegener's granulomatosis occurred immediately afte r the first administration of mAb 17-1A. This suggests that mAb 17-1A shoul d be applied cautiously in autoimmune disease.