Incidence and severity of hand-foot syndrome in colorectal cancer patients treated with capecitabine: a single-institution experience.
BACKGROUND
Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) has been previously reported as a side effect in 45-56% of patients treated with capecitabine. However, the natural history of HFS has not been fully characterized. In this study, we investigate the incidence, severity, and time course of HFS.


METHODS
Toxicity data collected for 41 patients treated in two clinical trials were analyzedfor the occurrence of HFS. Proportions of patients developing HFS after capecitabine treatment were calculated, and the severity and time course of HFS were analyzed.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight (68.3%) of the 41 patients had at least one episode of HFS. Most patients had their first (92.9%) or most severe (67.9%) episode of HFS within the first two cycles of treatment. Eighty-nine percent of the HFS episodes were grade 1 or 2; only 11% were grade 3.


CONCLUSIONS
HFS is common in patients treated with capecitabine, and usually starts within the first two cycles of therapy.
Abushullaih
Samer
S
Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and Digestive Diseases, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
Saad
Everardo D
ED
Munsell
Mark
M
Hoff
Paulo M
PM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000069287:Capecitabine; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007645:Keratoderma, Palmoplantar / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011355:Prodrugs; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil