title: Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor skin toxicity: a matter of topical hydration.
abstract: Skin toxicity is a frequent complication of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy, which can be an obstacle in maintaining the dose intensity and may negatively impact on the clinical outcome of cancer patients. Skin lesions depend on the disruption of the keratinocyte development pathways and no treatment is clearly effective in resolving the cutaneous alterations frequently found during anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy. Among systemic treatments, oral tetracycline proved to be useful in preventing skin manifestations. We describe the case of a patient affected by metastatic colorectal cancer, for whom a combination of chemotherapy and cetuximab was used as second-line treatment. The patient developed a symptomatic papulopustular skin rash that disappeared completely after a twice-daily application of a hydrating and moisturizing cream, mainly consisting of a mixture of paraffin, silicone compounds, and macrogol. The marked cutaneous amelioration allowed the patient to continue cetuximab without any further symptoms and was associated with a partial radiological response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Daris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Codecà
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bocci
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crepaldi
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Violati
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Viale
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Careri
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caldiera
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bordin
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zonato
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cassinelli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foa
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068818:Cetuximab / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005076:Exanthema / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D063465:Skin Cream / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000068258:Bevacizumab; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab