Dermatologic Adverse Events from Cancer Treatments

October 2018 in “ Springer eBooks ”

Jennifer Wu, Alina Markova, Mario E. Lacouture

chemotherapy-induced alopecia EGFR inhibitors topical therapies systemic therapies dose reduction discontinuation early diagnosis proper management CIA

Studysummary Cancer treatments can cause skin-related side effects that may affect patient quality of life and require changes in treatment. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The document from October 20, 2018, details the range of dermatologic adverse events (dAEs) that can occur as a result of cancer treatments, including effects on skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes. These dAEs can significantly impact a patient's quality of life and may necessitate changes in cancer treatment regimens. Specific dAEs such as chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA), which affects 65% of patients, and skin reactions from EGFR inhibitors, affecting 75–90% of patients, are highlighted. The document also discusses the management of these dAEs, with strategies including preventive measures and both topical and systemic therapies. For severe cases, dose reduction or discontinuation of the cancer treatment may be necessary. The importance of early diagnosis and proper management of dAEs is emphasized to optimize anticancer response and maintain patient quality of life.

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Research cited in this study

19 / 19 results

Permanent Alopecia in Patients with Breast Cancer After Taxane Chemotherapy and Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy: Clinicopathologic Findings in a Cohort of 10 Patients

research Permanent Alopecia in Patients with Breast Cancer After Taxane Chemotherapy and Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy: Clinicopathologic Findings in a Cohort of 10 Patients

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This study observed various patterns of permanent alopecia in breast cancer patients treated with taxanes and adjuvant hormonal chemotherapy, hypothesizing disruptions in hair follicle cycles due to chemoinflammatory and hormonal factors.

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This systematic review found that Janus kinase inhibitors have shown beneficial effects for psoriasis and alopecia areata, with promising preliminary results in other skin conditions, though more research is needed to define dosing and safety profiles.

research JAK Inhibitors in Dermatology: The Promise of a New Drug Class

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research Dermatological Adverse Events with Taxane Chemotherapy

141 citations , September 2016 in “European Journal of Dermatology”

This review examines dermatological side effects of taxane chemotherapy reported in past studies and highlights the necessity for identifying and managing these conditions to maintain cancer patients' quality of life; it presents no new clinical results.

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research Alopecia in Patients Treated with Molecularly Targeted Anticancer Therapies

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research Management of Dermatologic Toxicities

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research Dermatologic Adverse Events in Pediatric Patients Receiving Targeted Anticancer Therapies: A Pooled Analysis

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This study analyzed 19 clinical trials and found that dermatologic adverse events, such as rash, xerosis, and mucositis, frequently occur in pediatric patients receiving targeted anticancer therapies.

Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Bimatoprost Solution 0.03% Application to the Eyelid Margin for the Treatment of Idiopathic and Chemotherapy-Induced Eyelash Hypotrichosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

research Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Bimatoprost Solution 0.03% Application to the Eyelid Margin for the Treatment of Idiopathic and Chemotherapy-Induced Eyelash Hypotrichosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

38 citations , October 2014 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

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research Efficacy and Tolerability of Two Scalp Cooling Systems for the Prevention of Alopecia Associated with Docetaxel Treatment

52 citations , May 2013 in “Supportive Care in Cancer”

Scalp cooling significantly reduces hair loss in chemotherapy patients.

research Dermatologic Adverse Events Associated With Afatinib: An Oral ErbB Family Blocker

87 citations , March 2013 in “Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy”

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Hair Shaft Abnormalities After Chemotherapy and Tamoxifen Therapy in Patients With Breast Cancer Evaluated by Optical Coherence Tomography

research Hair Shaft Abnormalities After Chemotherapy and Tamoxifen Therapy in Patients With Breast Cancer Evaluated by Optical Coherence Tomography

16 citations , October 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Chemotherapy can cause significant hair thinning and changes in hair texture, while tamoxifen has a smaller effect.

Permanent Scalp Alopecia Related to Breast Cancer Chemotherapy by Sequential Fluorouracil/Epirubicin/Cyclophosphamide (FEC) and Docetaxel: A Prospective Study of 20 Patients

research Permanent Scalp Alopecia Related to Breast Cancer Chemotherapy by Sequential Fluorouracil/Epirubicin/Cyclophosphamide (FEC) and Docetaxel: A Prospective Study of 20 Patients

68 citations , May 2012 in “Annals of Oncology”

This study reports that permanent and severe alopecia is a newly identified complication of the FEC 100–docetaxel regimen used for adjuvant breast cancer treatment.

research Permanent Alopecia After Systemic Chemotherapy: A Clinicopathological Study of 10 Cases

57 citations , March 2011 in “The American Journal of Dermatopathology”

This study found that permanent alopecia can occur after certain chemotherapy treatments and presents as nonscarring hair loss similar to androgenetic alopecia, with specific histological features that could be misdiagnosed without proper clinicopathological correlation.

research Permanent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: Case Report and Review of the Literature

67 citations , May 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This article discusses a unique case of permanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia in a patient receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer, characterized by a distinctive histologic finding and excludes bone marrow transplantation, but reports no new clinical results.

research Irreversible And Severe Alopecia Following Docetaxel Or Paclitaxel Cytotoxic Therapy For Breast Cancer

61 citations , April 2009 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

This study found that irreversible and severe alopecia can occur following docetaxel or paclitaxel chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Chemotherapy-Induced Dermatological Toxicity: Frequencies and Impact on Quality of Life in Women’s Cancers. Results of a Prospective Study

research Chemotherapy-Induced Dermatological Toxicity: Frequencies and Impact on Quality of Life in Women’s Cancers. Results of a Prospective Study

76 citations , August 2007 in “Supportive care in cancer”

The researchers reported that dermatological side effects from chemotherapy for women's cancers are common and significantly affect quality of life.

research Chemotherapy-Induced Anagen Effluvium: Diffuse or Patterned?

28 citations , January 2007 in “Dermatology”

This article discusses the presentation of chemotherapy-induced anagen effluvium as either diffuse or patterned hair loss and reports no new clinical findings.