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. 2025 Apr 11;14(3):269-273.
doi: 10.1007/s13691-025-00764-z. eCollection 2025 Jul.

A case of zolbetuximab-induced protein-losing gastroenteropathy in a patient with advanced gastric cancer

Kunihiro Tsuji  1 , Kito Yosuke  1 , Saori Miyajima  1 , Sho Tsuyama  2
Affiliations

A case of zolbetuximab-induced protein-losing gastroenteropathy in a patient with advanced gastric cancer

Kunihiro Tsuji et al. Int Cancer Conf J. .

Abstract

Zolbetuximab is a monoclonal antibody targeting Claudin 18.2 that has been approved for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer in Japan. Zolbetuximab has its anticancer effects through a variety of mechanisms, including antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Previous studies have identified edema and hypoalbuminemia as adverse events associated with zolbetuximab treatment although the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In this report, we present a case of zolbetuximab-inducing protein-losing gastroenteropathy in a patient with advanced gastric cancer. This case demonstrated protein leakage from the upper gastrointestinal tract, confirmed through protein leakage scintigraphy. This finding could provide the mechanisms of zolbetuximab-induced edema and hypoalbuminemia.

Keywords: Edema; Hypoalbuminemia; Protein-losing enteropathy; Zolbetuximab.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no financial considerations or relationships that may pose a conflict of interest.

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