Eruptive milia and comedones during treatment with dovitinib

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Dovitinib (TKI258) is an investigational multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in various cancer clinical trials.
• Commonly reported side effects include gastrointestinal issues and fatigue.
• Cutaneous manifestations are rare, with only two prior cases documented.

Observation:

• A patient undergoing dovitinib treatment for metastatic gastrointestinal cancer developed eruptive facial milia and comedones.
• The onset of these skin lesions was notably rapid.
• Notably, the observed lesions were non-inflammatory.

Findings:

• This report details a unique case of facial milia and comedones associated with dovitinib therapy.
• The presentation was characterized by rapid onset and a lack of inflammatory features, distinguishing it from previous reports.
• The specific pathogenesis of these dovitinib-induced skin reactions remains unclear.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of recognizing and reporting uncommon cutaneous side effects of targeted cancer therapies.
• Increased awareness among clinicians may lead to earlier identification of similar dermatological reactions.
• Further investigation into the mechanisms underlying dovitinib-induced skin toxicity is warranted.