Toxicidad cutánea asociada a cetuximab en cáncer colorrectal metastásico / Cutaneous Toxicity Associated With Cetuximab Treatment in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Objetivo Evaluar la incidencia y el tipo de reacciones cutáneas secundarias al tratamiento con cetuximab y describir el protocolo terapéutico. Método Estudio retrospectivo de seguridad. Se seleccionaron los pacientes que recibieron cetuximab desde enero a diciembre de 2009. Se obtuvo la información consultando bases de datos Access y posterior revisión de historias clínicas. Se registraron los datos en una hoja de cálculo Excel. Para la gradación de la gravedad de la erupción cutánea se siguió la clasificación NCI-CTCAE. Resultados Recibieron tratamiento 43 pacientes. Presentaron erupción acneiforme 30 (69,8%): 14, grado 1 (48,3%); 13, grado 2 (44,8%), y 3, grado 3 (10,3%). La mediana de días hasta aparición de síntomas fue de 7 (4-28). Presentaron xerosis, tras una mediana de 40 (20-56) días, 10 pacientes (23,3%) y 3 (7%) manifestaron fisuras en manos y pies tras 28 (21-35) días. En dos pacientes aparecieron trastornos ungueales (como paroniquia) tras 42 (35-49) días. En cuanto a alteraciones del crecimiento del pelo: hubo dos casos de hipertricosis y un paciente experimentó un gran sobrecrecimiento de las pestañas. Se presentaron conjuntivitis importantes en cinco casos. Tuvieron lugar tres reacciones infusionales. Se aplicó a todos los pacientes un protocolo de tratamiento basado en la gravedad de la toxicidad cutánea. Conclusión El perfil de seguridad de cetuximab concuerda con el descrito en los estudios publicados. Se trata de efectos adversos cutáneos de aparición muy frecuente y de importantes consecuencias relacionadas con la efectividad de la terapia. La información al paciente y detección y tratamiento precoz de la sintomatología según un protocolo consensuado pueden favorecer el buen cumplimiento y el éxito terapéutico (AU)

Objective To evaluate the impact and type of side-effects in patients treated with cetuximab and provide a description of the general measures and treatment. Methods Retrospective safety study. We included all patients that received cetuximab from January to December 2009. All information was obtained from the Pharmacy and Oncology Department's Access databases and reviewed the patient's medical history. All data was registered in an Excel workbook. Skin toxicity was graded by the current National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC).Results During the study period 43 patients received treatment with cetuximab. Acneiform eruption was present in 30 of the cases (69.8%): 14 patients with grade 1 (48.3%), 13 with grade 2 (44.8%) and 3 with grade 3 (10.3%). These adverse effects appeared in a median of seven (4–28) days. In a median of 40 (20–56) days, ten patients (23.3%) presented xerosis, and three (7%) suffered painful fissures in hands and feet after a median of 28 (21–35) days. Paronychia was present in two patients after a median of 42 (35–49) days. Finally, an alteration in hair growth was observed in two patients with overgrowth of facial hair and one patient with overgrowth of the eyelashes. Five patients presented important conjunctivitis. Three infusion reactions occurred. A grade-based treatment algorithm was used for all patients that presented cutaneous toxicity. Conclusions A considerable number of patients treated with cetuximab develop dermatological side-effects which left untreated could represent a threat to the efficacy of the therapy. Therefore effective management is mandatory, patient education and immediate treatment based on a grade-based algorithm to alleviate symptoms is necessary, so that patient compliance is guaranteed (AU)

[Cutaneous toxicity associated with cetuximab treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer]. / Toxicidad cutánea asociada a cetuximab en cáncer colorrectal metastásico.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact and type of side-effects in patients treated with cetuximab and provide a description of the general measures and treatment. METHODS: Retrospective safety study. We included all patients that received cetuximab from January to December 2009. All information was obtained from the Pharmacy and Oncology Department's Access databases and reviewed the patient's medical history. All data was registered in an Excel workbook. Skin toxicity was graded by the current National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC). RESULTS: During the study period 43 patients received treatment with cetuximab. Acneiform eruption was present in 30 of the cases (69.8%): 14 patients with grade 1 (48.3%), 13 with grade 2 (44.8%) and 3 with grade 3 (10.3%). These adverse effects appeared in a median of seven (4-28) days. In a median of 40 (20-56) days, ten patients (23.3%) presented xerosis, and three (7%) suffered painful fissures in hands and feet after a median of 28 (21-35) days. Paronychia was present in two patients after a median of 42 (35-49) days. Finally, an alteration in hair growth was observed in two patients with overgrowth of facial hair and one patient with overgrowth of the eyelashes. Five patients presented important conjunctivitis. Three infusion reactions occurred. A grade-based treatment algorithm was used for all patients that presented cutaneous toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: A considerable number of patients treated with cetuximab develop dermatological side-effects which left untreated could represent a threat to the efficacy of the therapy. Therefore effective management is mandatory, patient education and immediate treatment based on a grade-based algorithm to alleviate symptoms is necessary, so that patient compliance is guaranteed.