title: Efficacy, tolerability and impact on quality of life of clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide for the treatment of cetuximab-associated acneiform eruption in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors are recent antineoplastic treatments used for the treatment of some non-cutaneous tumours, which aberrantly express EGFR. Because of their specificity, these drugs have low systemic toxicity, but frequent undesired cutaneous effects, the most common of which is an acneiform eruption, occurring after 1-3 weeks of treatment. Management of this rash is not well standardized.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated efficacy, tolerability and impact on quality of life of a clindamycin phosphate 1.2%-benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in 12 male adults who developed acneiform eruption during treatment with cetuximab for metastatic colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients applied the clindamycin phosphate-benzoyl peroxide gel once daily, at evening, for 8 weeks. The Skin-Score was used to evaluate reduction of erythema, papules, pustules and pruritus, the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire to evaluate the improvements of health-related quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant clinical improvements occurred after 2 weeks of treatment and were even more evident after 8 weeks (mean Skin-Score 20.54 ± 7.83, p = 1.37 × 10(-6) vs. second week visit, p = 1.26 × 10(-7) vs. before treatment). Accordingly, DLQI values decreased from 13.64 ± 2.01 before treatment to 6.45 ± 1.37 after 8 weeks (p = 1.12 × 10(-5)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A clindamycin phosphate-benzoyl peroxide gel may be an effective and safe option in the treatment of cetuximab-associated acneiform eruptions.
authors: a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine - Dermatology and.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Vaccaro
authors: a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine - Dermatology and.
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Guarneri
authors: a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine - Dermatology and.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Borgia
authors: b Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Pollicino
authors: b Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Altavilla
authors: a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine - Dermatology and.
authors: Serafinella P
authors: SP
authors: Cannavò
mesh_terms: D017486:Acneiform Eruptions / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068818:Cetuximab / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D004890:Erythema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005782:Gels; D002981:Clindamycin; C007084:clindamycin phosphate; D000068818:Cetuximab; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide
keywords: Acneiform eruption; cetuximab; clindamycin phosphate-benzoyl peroxide gel; epidermal growth factor receptor; metastatic colorectal cancer