de Noronha e Menezes, N.M., Lima, R., Moreira, A., Varela, P., Barroso, A., Baptista, A., & Parente, B. (2009). Description and management of cutaneous side effects during erlotinib and cetuximab treatment in lung and colorectal cancer patients: A prospective and descriptive study of 19 patients. European Journal of Dermatology, 19, 248–251.

To evaluate the effectiveness of treating epidermal growth factor receptor–inhibitor (EGFRI)-induced rash using a topical antibiotic or a combination of an antibiotic and benzoyl peroxide for grade 1 rash, or systemic treatment (oral antibiotics) for grade 2 or higher rash eruption.

On initiation of EGFRIs, all patients started sunscreen, a mild skin cleanser, and oatmeal cream daily. Patients with a grade 1 rash were treated with a topical antibiotic or an antibiotic and benzoyl peroxide. Patients with a grade 2 or higher rash eruption were treated with systemic treatment (oral antibiotics).

The study reported on a sample of 19 patients with lung and colorectal cancer who initiated therapy with EGFRI agents (erlotinib or cetuximab) and had skin alterations.

Portugal

This was a prospective, descriptive study.

• Clinical and photographic evaluation
• National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 3

• Eighteen of 19 patients developed a grade 2 rash.
• Of those 18 patients, 50% had a complete response to treatment with tetracyclines (mainly doxycycline).
• Only one patient had grade 3 rash, which did not respond to minocycline.
• None of the patients had to stop treatment with EGFRI therapy.

Tetracyclines were effective in completely resolving grade 2 EGFRI-induced rash in 50% of the sample.

• This was a small, noncontrolled study.
• No statistical analysis of the difference in prevalence rates was reported.