Severe Scarring Alopecia Associated with Combinational Use of Ficlatuzumab and Gefitinib: A Clinical and Immunohistochemistry Study

The study investigated the effects of combining ficlatuzumab, an anti-hepatocyte growth factor monoclonal antibody, with gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) among Asian patients. The combination aimed to address resistance to EGFR TKIs, which is common after prolonged treatment. However, the study found that this combination was associated with severe scarring alopecia, a significant adverse effect. The findings highlighted the need for careful consideration of side effects when developing combinational cancer therapies.