[Cutaneous lesions due to inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor].

Malignant tumors are increasingly being treated with therapeutic agents having molecular mechanisms of action (so-called biologics). These include therapeutic agents for the blockade of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The adverse drug reaction profile associated with EGFR inhibitors is dominated by cutaneous lesions. Most common are acneiform skin reactions followed by xerosis, eczema and changes to the hair and nails. The cutaneous changes vary greatly between individuals and may be relatively insignificant. However, they may also prevent continuation of therapy. During the use of EGFR inhibitors, a correlation was observed between the severity of cutaneous changes and the effectiveness of the therapeutic agent, a finding potentially useful for individual dose adjustment.