Xerosis and pruritus as major EGFRI-associated adverse events

• Published in: Supportive care in cancer 2016-02, Vol.24 (2), p.513-521
• Main Authors: Clabbers, Julia M. K., Boers–Doets, Christine B., Gelderblom, Hans, Stijnen, Theo, Lacouture, Mario E., van der Hoeven, Koos J. M., Kaptein, Adrian A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Cancer; Complications and side effects; Dermatologic agents; Drug Eruptions - drug therapy; Drug Eruptions - psychology; Exanthema - chemically induced; Exanthema - psychology; Female; Humans; Itching; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Nursing; Nursing Research; Oncology; Original; Original Article; Pain Medicine; Pruritus - chemically induced; Pruritus - psychology; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Questionnaires; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - antagonists & inhibitors; Rehabilitation Medicine; Studies; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0941-4355; 1433-7339
• DOI: 10.1007/s00520-015-2781-y

Purpose The objective of this sub-analysis of the BeCet study (NCT01136005) was to examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients experiencing dermatological adverse events (AEs) during the first 6 weeks of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor (EGFRI) treatment. Methods Patients ( n  = 85) treated with EGFRI completed five questionnaires during the first 6 weeks of treatment. 77 patients provided enough data for the sub-analysis. Experienced AEs were reported in the Dermatological Reactions Targeted Therapy–Patients (DERETT-P), a symptom experience diary for patients treated with targeted therapy. The impact of EGFRI-associated dermatological adverse events on HRQoL was examined using four HRQoL questionnaires; the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–EGFRI (FACT-EGFRI-18), the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General (FACT-G), the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Skindex-16. Results During the first 6 weeks of EGFRI treatment, physical discomfort was the most significantly affected domain. In the entire study population, xerosis (dry skin) (22.3 %) and pruritus (itchy skin) (16.9 %) were reported as the most impactful AEs. For patients experiencing a papulopustular eruption (acneiform rash) pruritus (24.2 %), xerosis (18.9 %), and papulopustular eruption (6.3 %) were reported as the most impactful AEs. Papulopustular eruption, xerosis, and pruritus all showed a significant negative effect on HRQoL, displayed in FACT-EGFRI-18 scores. Conclusions In addition to papulopustular eruption, xerosis and pruritus are major EGFRI-associated dermatological AEs with an impact on HRQoL, which warrant more attention in clinical practice and research.