[Therapy with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors. Clinical spectrum of cutaneous adverse effects].

Recently, inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), such as erlotinib, gefitinib, cetuximab or panitumumab, have been successfully established in the therapy of a variety of solid tumors. Cutaneous adverse effects are the most frequent side-effects of these so-called targeted cancer drugs and occur in 45-100% of patients. In addition to a characteristic papulo-pustular rash, adverse effects include painful paronychia, xerosis cutis, pruritus, alopecia or alterations of the hair structure. These often stigmatizing side-effects represent a serious threat to the patients' quality of life and compliance and may lead to dose-reduction or even cessation of the antineoplastic therapy. Considering the steadily growing numbers of patients who receive EGFR-targeting therapy, these medicament-associated cutaneous adverse effects are becoming increasingly more important in the routine clinical practice of dermatologists and oncologists.