PURPOSE: Rash is the most common side effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors and negatively impacts quality of life. This single-institution study sought to explore how rash is currently managed outside a clinical trial setting and to further characterize general clinical aspects of this rash. METHODS/ RESULTS: Among 4101 consecutive patients with cancer of the lung, colorectum, pancreas, and head and neck, 138 had received an EGFR inhibitor. Within this group, 96 (69%) developed a rash. Forty-nine of these patients were prescribed rash therapy, and a total of 26 different palliative regimens were used. Surprisingly, most patients, with the exception of 2, appear to have manifested evidence of rash improvement-even when unproven or disproved therapies had been prescribed. Fourteen patients stopped their EGFR inhibitor because of rash, and 11 were then able to restart. No demographic variables were able to predict rash development. CONCLUSION: The observation that multiple, largely unproven, anecdotal therapies are being prescribed to palliate EGFR inhibitor-induced rashes underscores the need for more rigorous, prospective palliative trials.
PURPOSE:Rash is the most common side effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors and negatively impacts quality of life. This single-institution study sought to explore how rash is currently managed outside a clinical trial setting and to further characterize general clinical aspects of this rash. METHODS/ RESULTS: Among 4101 consecutive patients with cancer of the lung, colorectum, pancreas, and head and neck, 138 had received an EGFR inhibitor. Within this group, 96 (69%) developed a rash. Forty-nine of these patients were prescribed rash therapy, and a total of 26 different palliative regimens were used. Surprisingly, most patients, with the exception of 2, appear to have manifested evidence of rash improvement-even when unproven or disproved therapies had been prescribed. Fourteen patients stopped their EGFR inhibitor because of rash, and 11 were then able to restart. No demographic variables were able to predict rash development. CONCLUSION: The observation that multiple, largely unproven, anecdotal therapies are being prescribed to palliate EGFR inhibitor-induced rashes underscores the need for more rigorous, prospective palliative trials.
Authors: Alon Scope; Jocelyn A Lieb; Stephen W Dusza; Deborah L Phelan; Patricia L Myskowski; Leonard Saltz; Allan C Halpern Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2009-07-31 Impact factor: 11.527
Authors: Aminah Jatoi; Kendrith Rowland; Jeff A Sloan; Howard M Gross; Paul A Fishkin; Stephen P Kahanic; Paul J Novotny; Paul L Schaefer; David B Johnson; Loren K Tschetter; Charles L Loprinzi Journal: Cancer Date: 2008-08-15 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Alon Scope; Anna Liza C Agero; Stephen W Dusza; Patricia L Myskowski; Jocelyn A Lieb; Leonard Saltz; Nancy E Kemeny; Allan C Halpern Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2007-12-01 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Bret Wacker; Tina Nagrani; Jacqueline Weinberg; Karsten Witt; Gary Clark; Pablo J Cagnoni Journal: Clin Cancer Res Date: 2007-07-01 Impact factor: 12.531
Authors: Lei Chen; Jacqueline Brown; Dale Quentin Marmaduke; Carlos Mayo; Gerrit Grau; Yiu-Keung Lau; Coleman K Obasaju Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2018-02-08 Impact factor: 3.603