Sunitinib induced pyoderma gangrenosum-like ulcerations

• Published in: European journal of medical research 2011-11, Vol.16 (11), p.491-491
• Main Authors: Akanay-Diesel, S, Hoff, N P, Kürle, S, Haes, J, Erhardt, A, Häussinger, D, Schulte, K-W, Bölke, Edwin, Matuschek, C, Budach, W, Gerber, P A, Homey, B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Case Report; Erythema - chemically induced; Erythema - complications; Humans; Hyperpigmentation - chemically induced; Hyperpigmentation - complications; Hypopigmentation - chemically induced; Hypopigmentation - complications; Indoles - adverse effects; Male; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; Platelet-derived growth factor; Pyoderma; Pyoderma Gangrenosum - chemically induced; Pyoderma Gangrenosum - complications; Pyoderma Gangrenosum - therapy; Pyrroles - adverse effects; Skin; Sunitinib; Ulcer - chemically induced; Ulcer - complications; Ulcer - therapy; Vascular endothelial growth factor
• ISSN: 0949-2321; 2047-783X; 2047-783X
• DOI: 10.1186/2047-783X-16-11-491

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a non-infectious neutro?philic skin disease commonly associated with underlying systemic diseases. Histopathological and laboratory diagnostics are unspecific in the majority of the cases and the diagnosis is made in accordance with the clinical picture. Here, we report the case of a 69-year old man with progredient pyoderma gangrenosum-like ulcerations under treatment with sunitinib due to hepatocellular carcinoma. A conventional ulcer therapy did not lead to a regression of the lesions. Solely cessation of sunitinib therapy resulted in an improvement of the ulcerations. Sunitinib is a multikinase inhibitor that targets the PDGF-α- and ?β-, VEGF-1-3-, KIT-, FLT3-, CSF-1- and RET-receptor, thereby impairing tumour proliferation, pathological angiogenesis and metastasation. Here, we demonstrate that pyoderma gangrenosum-like ulcers may represent a serious side effect of sunitinib-based anti-cancer treatment.