Relationship between epidermal growth factor receptor mutations and skin rash in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Abstract

Several reports have investigated relationships between epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and the efficacy of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer; however, there have been insufficient analyses of relationships between EGFR mutations and adverse reactions. This study investigated the relationships between EGFR mutations and skin rash. We first compared skin rash grades between different mutations, then tested factors possibly affecting skin rash by multivariate analysis. The main outcome measure was the significant difference in incidence of skin rash between each group with different mutations. Our study suggested that the risk of skin rash is low in patients with exon 19 deletion mutations who are taking EGFR-TKIs, whereas it is high in those with exon 21 point mutations. These results will be useful indicators for instructions regarding daily examinations, skin care, and use of oral antibiotics or topical steroids in patients taking EGFR-TKIs with skin rash.

Keywords:

• Epidermal growth factor receptor
• tyrosine kinase inhibitor
• non-small cell lung cancer
• skin rash
• exon 19 deletion mutation
• exon 21 point mutation

Acknowledgements

We thank all patients and medical staff at Kagawa University Hospital who were involved in this study. We also thank James P. Mahaffey, PhD, from Edanz Group (www.edanzediting.com/ac) for editing a draft of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

H.T. and T.T. conceived the study concepts. H.T. and K.A. conducted data extraction and analysis. K.Y. and K.T. performed statistical analyses. M.K., S.K., and H.H. provided technical support. All authors contributed to data interpretation and assisted in the preparation and review of the manuscript.

Notes on contributors

Hiroaki Tanaka is a chief pharmacist at Kagawa University Hospital, mainly in charge of cancer chemotherapy. He has been a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacy Specialist (Japanese Society of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences). He also earned a doctorate in medicine at Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine. His research interest is hospital pharmacy, especially oncology.

Kimiko Atagi is a pharmacist at Kagawa University Hospital, mainly in charge of cancer chemotherapy. She is a bachelor of pharmacy. Her research interest is hospital pharmacy, especially oncology.

Takakiyo Tatsumichi is a pharmacist at Kagawa University Hospital, mainly in charge of cancer chemotherapy. He is a master of pharmacy. His research interest is hospital pharmacy, especially oncology.

Kazunori Yamaguchi is a chief pharmacist at Kagawa University Hospital, mainly in charge of cancer chemotherapy. He is a doctor of pharmacy. His research interest is hospital pharmacy, especially oncology.

Koichi Takahashi is a pharmacist at Kagawa University Hospital, mainly in charge of cancer chemotherapy. He is a bachelor of pharmacy. His research interest is hospital pharmacy, especially oncology.

Masato Kaji is a vice manager of pharmacy department at Kagawa University Hospital. He is a doctor of medicine. His research interest is hospital pharmacy in general.

Shinji Kosaka: vice manager of pharmacy department at Kagawa University Hospital.He is a doctor of medicine. His research interest is hospital pharmacy in general.

Hitoshi Houchi is a professor and manager of pharmacy department at Kagawa University Hospital. He is a doctor of medicine. His research interest is hospital pharmacy in general.