Cutaneous Adverse Reactions Linked to Targeted Anticancer Therapies Bortezomib and Lenalidomide for Multiple Myeloma: New Drugs, Old Side Effects

The study investigated the skin-related side effects of two cancer drugs, bortezomib and lenalidomide, in multiple myeloma patients. It found that 58.8% of patients (10 out of 17) treated with bortezomib experienced 17 cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADR), while 28% of patients (7 out of 25) treated with lenalidomide had 8 skin manifestations. These side effects included various types of rashes, mouth swelling, stomatitis-mucositis, limb edema, pruritus, and hair loss (telogen effluvium) for bortezomib; and rashes, edema, pruritus, and stomatitis-mucositis for lenalidomide. Some patients needed to stop or reduce the drug dosage due to these reactions. The study highlighted that even with new medications, traditional skin side effects persist and can greatly impact the quality of life, underscoring the need for careful monitoring of CADR and a collaborative approach involving dermatologists in patient care.