Fingerprint change as a consequence of anticancer treatments: A systematic integrative review

While it is widely acknowledged that fingerprint recognition has played an essential part in policing and forensic science, little is known about fingerprint alterations in medical science, specifically as a consequence of anticancer treatments. Thus, we aimed to analyze the extent of evidence between cancer treatments and fingerprint alterations in adults with cancer.

A systematic integrative review was conducted according to the PRISMA statement and the Cochrane guidelines for conducting a systematic review. PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from the inception between August and November 2024. The quality appraisal was conducted to evaluate the methodological quality of the included articles, selecting the most appropriate tool based on the publication type and study design.

Of 176 records, we selected five experimental studies articles and nine case reports publications. A correlation between specific anticancer treatments (capecitabine, taxanes, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors) and fingerprint alterations has been documented in individuals with various cancer diagnoses (mainly advanced breast and colorectal cancers). The majority of articles were of moderate to low quality.

Although fingerprint alteration as a consequence of specific anticancer treatments has been documented, further large and well-designed experimental studies are necessary to quantify the phenomenon burden in relation to specific anticancer regimens and populations. PROSPERO REGISTRATION N: (CRD42024581192).