Topoisomerase-Interacting Agents
November 2013
TLDR Topoisomerase inhibitors can cause hair loss, skin rash, hand-foot syndrome, and nail changes.
Topoisomerase inhibitors were designed to interfere with topoisomerase enzymes, which control DNA structure changes by breaking and rejoining DNA strands during the cell cycle. Dermatologic adverse events associated with anthracyclines included alopecia, skin rash, hand-foot syndrome (HFS), nail changes, and UV and radiation recall. HFS was linked to various cytostatics, total body irradiation, and bone marrow transplantation, with no specific diagnostic test available. Differential diagnoses for HFS included toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythromelalgia, erythema multiforme, Stevens–Johnson syndrome, vasculitis, and graft versus host disease in bone marrow transplant patients.
