title: Management of 'in-field' skin toxicity in head and neck cancer patients treated with combined cetuximab and radiotherapy.
abstract: It is well known that the cetuximab (Cet) epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody enhances the sensitivity of tumour cells to radiation, and it is likely that the concurrent administration of Cet and radiotherapy (RT) results in some degree of interplay between the effects of the individual agents on the skin and in the exacerbation of reactions normally seen with these individual agents. In this paper, we present a concise review of Cet/RT-related skin toxicity, focusing on mechanisms and pathogenesis, clinical presentation and scoring systems and, finally, therapeutic management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, ASL TO4, General Hospital Ivrea, Ivrea, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cante
authors.forename: Maria Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: La Porta
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Piera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sciacero
authors.forename: Giuseppe Franco
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Girelli
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: Gianmauro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Numico
authors.forename: Nerina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Denaro
authors.forename: Elvio Grazioso
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Russi
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ricardi
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000068818:Cetuximab; D019468:Disease Management; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab