Calciphylaxis Cutis Associated With Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) Inhibitor Therapy: A New Challenge

Paige Griffith1, Jaroslaw Jedrych2, Joel Sunshine2

  • 1The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.

Cureus
|February 28, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors treat certain cancers. This report details a rare calciphylaxis cutis adverse event in a patient on FGFR inhibitor therapy, even with normal kidney function.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Dermatology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors target malignancies with FGFR2 or FGFR3 fusions/rearrangements.
  • Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignancy that can harbor FGFR alterations.

Observation:

  • A case of calciphylaxis cutis is reported in a patient with FGFR2-rearranged cholangiocarcinoma undergoing FGFR inhibitor therapy.
  • The patient presented with preserved renal function, normal calcium, and mildly elevated phosphorus levels.

Findings:

  • Calciphylaxis cutis occurred despite the absence of typical risk factors like end-stage renal disease and severe hyperphosphatemia.
  • This presentation aligns with other recent reports of calciphylaxis in patients receiving FGFR inhibitor therapy.

Implications:

  • Calciphylaxis cutis is a potential adverse event associated with FGFR inhibitor treatment.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanism linking FGFR inhibitor therapy to calciphylaxis cutis.

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