Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Anterior High-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography in the Diagnosis and Therapeutic Monitoring of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia
Published on: August 9, 2024
Eruptive keratoacanthoma-type squamous cell carcinomas in patients taking sorafenib for the treatment of solid tumors
Kathleen J Smith1, Heather Haley, Sate Hamza
1Quest Diagnostics, Tucker, Georgia 30084, USA.
Background:
Protein kinases (PKs) are indispensable for most cellular processes, and deregulation of PKs can lead to activation of oncogenic and anti-apoptotic pathways and immune dysregulation.
Objective:
To report the development of keratoacanthoma (KA)-type squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) in patients treated with the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib for the treatment of solid tumors, to present the possible mechanisms for induction of these SCCs, and to discuss the implications for discontinuation of therapy and possible cotherapies to decrease this side effect.
Participants:
Fifteen patients taking the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib for the treatment of solid tumors who developed multiple KA-type SCCs, which continued to develop while the patients were undergoing therapy but stopped with discontinuation of sorafenib.
Limitations:
This report is limited because it is a retrospective study that included only patients who developed multiple KA-type SCCs.
Conclusions:
Development of cutaneous SCCs appears to be a side effect limited to sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor that inhibits not only multiple tyrosine kinases (TKs), but also the serine-threonine kinase Raf. The incidence of cutaneous SCCs does not appear greater with multikinase inhibitors that inhibit only TKs.
Insights
Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, can cause keratoacanthoma-type squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Discontinuation of sorafenib therapy led to the cessation of SCC development in patients with solid tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Protein kinases (PKs) regulate essential cellular functions.
- Dysregulated PKs are implicated in cancer and immune disorders.
- Multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) target PKs for cancer therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document keratoacanthoma (KA)-type squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) in patients treated with sorafenib.
- To explore potential mechanisms behind sorafenib-induced SCCs.
- To discuss treatment discontinuation and management strategies for this side effect.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 15 patients with solid tumors treated with sorafenib.
- Observation of multiple KA-type SCC development during sorafenib therapy.
- Assessment of SCC changes upon sorafenib discontinuation.
Main Results:
- All 15 patients developed multiple KA-type SCCs while on sorafenib.
- SCCs ceased to develop after sorafenib discontinuation.
- Sorafenib, an MKI inhibiting tyrosine kinases and Raf, is associated with these SCCs.
Conclusions:
- Cutaneous SCCs appear to be a specific side effect of sorafenib.
- MKIs targeting only tyrosine kinases did not show a similar incidence of SCCs.
- Further research is needed to understand and mitigate this sorafenib-associated toxicity.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
01:03Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
01:03Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
02:23Abnormal Proliferation