Dose-related cutaneous toxicities with etoposide.
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous toxicities are seen frequently in association with administration of high doses, but not standard doses, of agents. With the increasing use of etoposide in dose-intensive regimens, cutaneous toxicities are appearing with increasing frequency.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of 145 patients treated with various doses of etoposide was conducted.


RESULTS
This analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in the frequency of these toxicities at doses of 2400 mg/m2 and 4200 mg/m2, compared with doses of 1800 mg/m2. Intense, painful palmar erythema accompanied by bullae formation and desquamation occurred at the 4200 mg/m2 dose. Symptoms were controlled by a short course of corticosteroids.


CONCLUSIONS
Although they are not dose limiting, substantial dose-related skin toxicities can be an important side effect of high-dose etoposide therapy.
Department of Pharmacy, Riverside Regional Medical Center, Newport News, VA 23601.
C P
CP
Murphy
E A
EA
Harden
R H
RH
Herzig
D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005047:Etoposide / Q000633:toxicity*; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*
D005047:Etoposide