Description and management of cutaneous side effects during cetuximab or erlotinib treatments: a prospective study of 30 patients.
BACKGROUND
Drugs such as cetuximab or erlotinib, which inhibit the epidermal growth factor receptor, are increasingly being used in treatment of solid tumors. This has led to the appearance of new secondary effects.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to describe the cutaneous side effects and their management in patients with cancer treated with cetuximab or erlotinib.


METHODS
We clinically examined 30 patients determining type, frequency, treatment, and evolution of side effects.


RESULTS
Most patients presented with a cutaneous reaction consisting of a follicular eruption, typically appearing in seborrheic areas within the first 15 days of treatment. Painful fissures in palms and soles and paronychia were the second most common cutaneous toxicities. We also noticed an alteration in hair growth at several months' follow-up. As these secondary effects responded well to treatment, few patients discontinued the antineoplastic therapy because of cutaneous toxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
This was a prospective but uncontrolled study.


CONCLUSIONS
Although these new targeted therapies have low systemic toxicity because of their high specificity, cutaneous side effects are common and may be serious.
Roé
Esther
E
Department of Dermatology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain. Eroe@santpau.es
García Muret
María Pilar
MP
Marcuello
Eugenio
E
Capdevila
Jaume
J
Pallarés
Cinta
C
Alomar
Agustín
A
D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068818:Cetuximab; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab