Management of Dermatologic Toxicities

May 2015 in “ Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network ”

Mario E. Lacouture

dermatologic toxicities alopecia EGFR inhibitors acneiform rash dMEK inhibitors BRAF inhibitors maculopapular rash prophylactic antibiotics hedgehog signaling pathway thyroid abnormalities iron abnormalities vitamin abnormalities minoxidil scalp cooling chemotherapy hair loss skin rashes Rogaine

TLDR Doctors should actively prevent and treat skin side effects in cancer patients to keep them on the best medication and reduce discomfort.

In 2015, Dr. Mario E. Lacouture highlighted the significance of early management of dermatologic toxicities, which affect the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes, in cancer treatment due to their impact on patients' quality of life and potential to alter treatment. Different cancer therapies were noted to cause various skin rashes, with EGFR inhibitors causing an acneiform rash in most patients, dMEK inhibitors in over 50% of patients, and BRAF inhibitors causing a quickly spreading maculopapular rash. Prophylactic antibiotics were effective in preventing rashes from EGFR inhibitors. Alopecia, a concerning side effect, could occur with inhibitors of BRAF, MEK, EGFR, and hedgehog signaling pathway. Management strategies for alopecia included correcting thyroid, iron, and vitamin abnormalities, and using minoxidil 5% twice daily. Scalp cooling during chemotherapy was found to prevent hair loss in a study of 1400 patients.

View this study on jnccn.org →