Cetuximab (CTX) is a monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). It is used as a monotherapy or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Severe cutaneous reactions are frequent and major causes of discontinuation of CTX treatment. This open-label study evaluated the efficacy of a mixture drug topically applied to skin lesions in patients with mCRC who developed skin toxicity caused by CTX. Twenty patients with mCRC were included in this prospective, single-center, open-labeled trial. The patients had received CTX in addition to chemotherapy and developed grade 2 or 3 skin toxicity and were treated twice daily with an ointment mixture of clobetasol, dexpanthenol, and fucidic acid. The objective response rate was 100%, and no delay, dose reduction or discontinuation of CTX treatment due to skin toxicity were necessary. Skin toxicity relapsed in the following chemotherapy cycles in all patients after discontinuation of the ointment. Repeated administration of the ointment resulted in improvement of skin toxicity and allowed continuation of CTX treatment. This ointment mixture seems to be effective in the treatment of CTX-induced skin toxicity in patients with mCRC.
Key words: Topical treatment, cetuximab-induced skin toxicity, metastatic colorectal cancer
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