A Novel Approach to Manage Skin Toxicity Caused by Therapeutic Agents Targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

The document reports on a novel therapeutic approach to manage skin toxicity caused by epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRI), which are used in cancer therapy. Skin toxicity, including papular-pustular eruption (PPE), seborrheic dermatitis-like erythema, and other skin conditions, often leads to the interruption or dose modification of EGFRI treatment. The study describes a combined therapy consisting of topical application of a moisturizer cream containing green tea polyphenols twice daily and oral administration of nicotinamide (1 g/day) for 12 weeks. This treatment showed variable effectiveness on different aspects of skin toxicity, with PPE and itching rapidly improving by week 6, while other conditions like paronychia, xerosis, and fissures showed a positive trend but were less responsive. All treated patients reported significant improvement in life quality. The study suggests that this nicotinamide/green tea polyphenols-based therapy is effective in improving skin toxicity due to EGFRI and warrants further investigation. However, no controlled clinical studies have been fully reported to provide evidence-based treatment recommendations. The authors disclose no conflicts of interest.