Persistent Hair Growth During Treatment With the EGFR Inhibitor Erlotinib

The document discussed the side effect of trichomegaly, or excessive hair growth, in patients treated with the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib, used for epithelial malignancies. A case study of a 76-year-old female with lung cancer showed persistent hair growth and darkening over two and a half years of treatment. This side effect, unlike other cutaneous reactions, suggested a potential therapeutic use of EGFR inhibitors for hair growth stimulation. The study noted that trichomegaly was associated with positive tumor responses, though the mechanism and its occurrence in only some patients were unclear, indicating a need for further research.