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Erlotinib-Induced Rash Spares Previously Irradiated Skin

Bei zuvor bestrahlter Haut bleibt der Erlotinib-Hautausschlag aus

  • Case Study
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Abstract

Background:

Erlotinib is an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor prescribed to patients with locally advanced or metastasized non-small cell lung carcinoma after failure of at least one earlier chemotherapy treatment. Approximately 75% of the patients treated with erlotinib develop acneiform skin rashes.

Case Report:

A patient treated with erlotinib 3 months after finishing concomitant treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer is presented. Unexpectedly, the part of the skin that had been included in his previously radiotherapy field was completely spared from the erlotinib-induced acneiform skin rash.

Conclusion:

The exact mechanism of erlotinib-induced rash sparing in previously irradiated skin is unclear. The underlying mechanism of this phenomenon needs to be explored further, because the number of patients being treated with a combination of both therapeutic modalities is increasing. The therapeutic effect of erlotinib in the area of the previously irradiated lesion should be assessed.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund:

Erlotinib ist ein epidermaler Wachstumsfaktorrezeptor-Inhibitor, der bei Patienten mit lokal fortgeschrittenem oder metastasiertem nicht-kleinzelligen Bronchialkarzinom und Progress nach mindestens einer chemotherapeutischen Behandlung eingesetzt wird. Etwa 75% der mit Erlotinib behandelten Patienten entwickeln akneiforme Hautveränderungen.

Fallbericht:

Wir beschreiben einen Patienten mit nicht-kleinzelligem Bronchialkarzinom, der drei Monate nach Abschluss einer simultanen Radiochemotherapie mit Erlotinib behandelt wurde. Überraschenderweise blieb die sonst vorhandene Erlotinibassoziierte Hautreaktion im Bereich der mitbestrahlten Haut komplett aus.

Schlussfolgerung:

Der pathogenetische Mechanismus des Ausbleibens der Erlotinib-typischen Hautreaktion im Bereich der zuvor bestrahlten Haut bleibt unklar. Diese Interaktion sollte jedoch weiter erforscht werden, da die Anzahl der Patienten, die mit einer Kombination beider Therapiemethoden behandelt werden, stetig zunehmen wird und der therapeutische Effekt von Erlotinib im Bereich vorbestrahlter Läsionen prätherapeutisch besser abgeschätzt werden könnte.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiotherapeutisch Instituut Stedendriehoek en Omstreken (RISO), Deventer, The Netherlands

    Irene M. Lips & Ernest J. A. Vonk MD

  2. Department of Lung Diseases, Deventer Hospital, Deventer, The Netherlands

    Mariska E. Y. Koster

  3. Department of Dermatology, Deventer Hospital, Deventer, The Netherlands

    Ronald H. Houwing

  4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiotherapeutisch Instituut Stedendriehoek en Omstreken (RISO), Nico Bolkesteinlaan 85, 7416 SE, Deventer, The Netherlands

    Ernest J. A. Vonk MD

Authors
  1. Irene M. Lips
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  2. Mariska E. Y. Koster
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  3. Ronald H. Houwing
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  4. Ernest J. A. Vonk MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ernest J. A. Vonk MD.

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Lips, I.M., Koster, M.E.Y., Houwing, R.H. et al. Erlotinib-Induced Rash Spares Previously Irradiated Skin. Strahlenther Onkol 187, 499–501 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-011-2232-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-011-2232-8

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