Targeted Therapy- and Chemotherapy-Associated Skin Toxicities: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Oncology Nursing Forum
|August 25, 2020
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Effective interventions like minocycline for acneform rash, pyridoxine for hand-foot syndrome, and scalp cooling for hair loss can manage cancer treatment skin toxicities. Further research is needed due to limited evidence certainty for some methods.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Dermatology
  • Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

  • Cancer treatments, including targeted therapy and chemotherapy, frequently cause skin toxicities.
  • These toxicities can lead to treatment interruptions and negatively impact patient well-being.
  • Effective prevention and management strategies are crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for preventing and managing cancer treatment-related skin toxicities.
  • To synthesize evidence from comparative studies to inform clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature search was conducted for comparative studies published before April 1, 2019.
  • Study selection and appraisal were performed by two independent reviewers.
  • Meta-analysis was employed using a random-effects model where appropriate.

Main Results:

  • Sixteen of 39 included studies (6,006 patients) provided data for meta-analysis.
  • Prophylactic minocycline reduced acneform rash in erlotinib recipients.
  • Pyridoxine prophylaxis lowered hand-foot syndrome risk in capecitabine-treated patients.
  • Scalp cooling significantly reduced severe hair loss and alopecia from chemotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • Certain interventions show promise for managing specific cancer treatment-related skin toxicities.
  • Evidence certainty for several interventions is limited, highlighting the need for further high-quality research.
  • Optimizing supportive care for skin toxicities can improve treatment adherence and patient quality of life.

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