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Meta-analysis of dermatological toxicities associated with sorafenib

L Zhang1, Q Zhou, L Ma

  • 1Department of Oncology Tianjin Lung Cancer Center and Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
|April 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, frequently causes skin toxicities like rash, hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR), and alopecia. While generally mild to moderate, these dermatological side effects require careful management in cancer patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Dermatology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor used in cancer therapy.
  • Dermatological toxicities are common side effects of sorafenib treatment.
  • Understanding the incidence and risks of these toxicities is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the type, incidence, and risks of dermatological toxicities associated with sorafenib.
  • To analyze the frequency and severity of skin reactions in patients treated with sorafenib.

Main Methods:

  • A meta-analysis of prospective phase II/III clinical trials and expanded-access programs.
  • Literature search conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and ASCO conference abstracts.
  • Analysis of overall incidences and risk ratios for dermatological toxicities.

Main Results:

  • The most frequent toxicities were hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR) (39.0%), rash/desquamation (35.4%), and alopecia (25.5%).
  • Sorafenib significantly increased the risk of HFSR (RR 7.50), rash/desquamation (RR 2.73), and alopecia (RR 7.55).
  • High-grade events occurred in 5.0% for rash/desquamation and 9.0% for HFSR, with most toxicities being mild to moderate.

Conclusions:

  • Sorafenib is associated with a significantly increased risk of HFSR, rash/desquamation, and alopecia.
  • Common skin toxicities include HFSR, rash/desquamation, alopecia, pruritus, and dry skin.
  • Appropriate prevention and management strategies for sorafenib-induced dermatological toxicities are recommended.

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