Cutaneous adverse events to systemic antineoplastic therapies: a retrospective study in a public oncologic hospital

Mucocutaneous adverse events are common during anticancer treatment, with variable consequences for the patient and their therapeutic regimen.

To evaluate the most common adverse events, as well as the drugs associated with their appearance and the consequences for cancer treatment.

A retrospective study was carried out through the analysis of patients treated at the Clinical Dermatology Unit of a public oncologic hospital.

A total of 138 patients with 200 adverse events were evaluated. The most commonly identified adverse events were nail and periungual changes (20%), papulopustular eruptions (13%), acneiform eruptions (12%), hand-foot syndrome (6.5%), hand-foot skin reaction (6%), and xerosis (6%). The most frequently associated antineoplastic treatment groups were classical chemotherapy (46.2%), target therapy (32.3%), and other non-antineoplastic drugs used in neoplasia protocols (16.5%). Of the total number of patients, 17.4% had their treatment suspended or changed due to a dermatological adverse event.

Retrospective study and analysis of patients who were referred for specialized dermatological examination only, not allowing the assessment of the actual incidence of adverse events.

A wide variety of dermatological manifestations are secondary to antineoplastic treatment with several different drugs resulting, not rarely, in the interruption or modification of therapeutic regimens.