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Pruritus to anticancer agents targeting the EGFR, BRAF, and CTLA-4

Alyssa Fischer1, Alyx C Rosen, Courtney J Ensslin

  • 1Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10022, USA.

Dermatologic Therapy
|April 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Targeted cancer drugs improve survival but cause skin issues like pruritus (itch). This review covers itch incidence, causes, and management for EGFRIs, vemurafenib, and ipilimumab.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Dermatology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Targeted anticancer drugs significantly improve patient survival across various cancers.
  • Dermatologic adverse events are common with targeted therapies, impacting quality of life.
  • Symptomatic pruritus (itch) is a frequent, yet often overlooked, side effect.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the incidence and clinical presentation of pruritus associated with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs).
  • To examine pruritus in patients treated with novel anti-melanoma drugs: vemurafenib and ipilimumab.
  • To explore the pathophysiology and current management strategies for drug-induced pruritus.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on EGFRIs, vemurafenib, and ipilimumab.
  • Analysis of reported incidence and clinical characteristics of pruritus.
  • Synthesis of proposed pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment approaches.

Main Results:

  • Pruritus is a significant adverse event associated with EGFRIs, vemurafenib, and ipilimumab.
  • The clinical presentation of pruritus can vary, affecting patient quality of life.
  • Understanding the pathophysiology is key to developing effective management strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Pruritus is an important dermatologic toxicity of targeted cancer therapies that requires attention.
  • Further research into pathophysiology and standardized management protocols is needed.
  • Addressing pruritus can improve treatment adherence and patient well-being.

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