Hand-foot syndrome and seborrheic dermatitis-like eruption induced by erlotinib
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https://doi.org/10.5070/D33k04q19cMain Content
Hand-foot syndrome and seborrheic dermatitis-like eruption induced by erlotinib
Sophia Benomar MD1, Saber Boutayeb MD2, Yassir Afifi PhD1, Syrine Hamada MD1, Jamila Bouhllab MD1, Badreddine Hassam PhD1, Hassan Errihanni PhD2
Dermatology Online Journal 15 (11): 2
1. Department of dermatology, Ibn Sina Hospital, Mohamed V University of Rabat, Morocco. sophiabenomar@yahoo.fr2. Department of medical oncology, National Institute of Oncology of Rabat, Morocco
Abstract
Erlotinib is an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is responsible for several cutaneous side effects. We report a case of hand-foot syndrome associated with a papulo-pustular and seborrheic dermatitis-like eruption of the face in a 61-year-old patient treated with erlotinib for lung cancer.
Introduction
Erlotinib is a new drug that belongs to the family of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. Erlotinib monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. It is also indicated in combination with gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Erlotinib induces cutaneous side effects in most patients. Acneiform eruption and hair and nail changes, such as paronychia, are the most frequent. We report a case of hand-foot syndrome induced by erloninib associated with a seborrheic dermatitis-like eruption.
Case report
A 61-year-old man with non-small-cell lung cancer with metastases to lymph nodes (stage IIIb: p T4 N1 MO), received second-line chemotherapy with 150 mg/day erlotinib (Tarceva®), following unsatisfactory response to cisplatin/etoposide chemotherapy.
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| Figure 1 |
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| Figure 1. Severe erythematous and scaly seborrheic dermatitis-like rash also with pruritic papules and pustules confined to the seborrheic areas of the face |
Three weeks after initiation of erlotinib, the patient developed a severe papulo-pustular and seborrheic dermatitis-like rash consisting in pruritic follicular papules and pustules confined to the seborrheic areas of the face (Fig. 1). This facial eruption was associated with a rash on the both palms and soles which began as a tingling sensation in the palms and soles, followed by characteristic symmetric swelling, erythema and desquamation over the next few days. The patient also complained of severe pain associated with paresthesia. Theses features were consistent with grade 3 hand-foot syndrome (Figs. 2 & 3). He also exhibited a yellowing of his nails. The patient was treated with oral doxycycline for the papulo-pustular and seborrheic dermatitis-like rash of the face and topical corticosteroids associated with oral vitamin B6 for the HFS. The dose of erlotinib was tapered to 100mg/day and later to 50mg/day.
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| Figure 2 | Figure 3 |
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| Figures 2 and 3. Grade 3 hand-foot syndrome with yellow nails | |
Because the skin lesions continuously worsened, erlotinib had to be discontinued.
Discussion
Erlotinib is an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase receptor, targeting specifically the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Epidermal growth factor receptors are overexpressed in different solid tumors (colorectal cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, et al.) and play an important role in the development and progression of these tumors [1]. Because EGFR is also expressed in the epidemis, sweat glands, and outer root sheath of the hair follicle, cutaneous side-effects are frequently encountered during its therapeutic blockade [2]. The most frequent sides effect are acneiform skin reactions, xerosis, hair and nail changes, hyperpigmentation and mucositis [3]. Skin rashes occur in up to 70 percent of patients treated by erlotinib. Various terms are used in the literature for these eruptions, such as pustular papular rash, acne-like, rosacea-like or seborrheic dermatitis-like eruptions [4, 5]. The follicular papules and pustules of the seborrheic areas are not preceded by comedones and occur within 1-3 weeks after the onset of treatment (three weeks in the case of our patient).
Although the exact etiology of the eruption is unknown, data from dose-escalation studies show that these cutaneous adverse effects are dose dependent [6]. Several reports indicate a correlation between the intensity of the cutaneous eruption and antineoplastic efficacy of the drug, with the rash being a marker of clinical benefit [7]. Nevertheless, a severe cutaneous eruption may be a determining cause of treatment discontinuation by patients [8].
Hand-foot syndrome or palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia is a distinctive and relatively frequent dermatologic toxic reaction associated with certain chemotherapeutic agents (5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cytarabin, docétaxel, capecitabine, gemcitabine, et al.) and certain vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors such as sunitinib or sorafenib [9]. In our case, clinical presentation and chronological features are similar to those of hand-foot syndrome associated with sunitinib or sorafenib, which typically arises after two to four weeks of treatment [10].
Hand-foot syndrome is an unusual cutaneous side effect of EGFR inhibitors. To our knowledge, we describe the second case of HFS induced by erlotinib. The first case report describes a 65-year-old patient who was given erlotinib for lung cancer [11]. In this report, the patient developed a severe HFS after the first month of treatment. The hand-foot syndrome was associated with a papulo-pustular eruption of the face and the trunk. Our patient presented with HFS associated with a papulo-pustular and seborrheic dermatitis-like rash of the face after three weeks of treatment. In both cases, only the cessation of treatment allowed the regression of skin symptoms. The reduction of the dose was ineffective.
These two observations demonstrate that not only VEGFR inhibitors induce HFS. The exact mechanism of the cutaneous adverse effects of kinase inhibitors, VEGFR and EGFR inhibitors remains to be further elucidated.
Erlotinib-induced cutaneous eruptions, should be recognized and managed aggressively, in order to continue this potentially beneficial treatment.
References
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