Gerber, P.A., Meller, S., Eames, T., Buhren, B.A., Schrumpf, H., Hetzer, S., ... Homey, B. (2012). Management of EGFR-inhibitor associated rash: A retrospective study in 49 patients. European Journal of Medical Research, 17(1), 4.
To compare the effectiveness of three established rash-management strategies in EGFR-inhibitor (EGFRI) associated rash development
Rash severity was assessed during the initial presentation to clinic by applying the EGFR-Induced Rash Severity Score (ERSS). Three different EGFRI rash-management strategies were compared, and each targeted the inflammatory and/or the infectious characteristics of the rash. In stage 1 of the study, 21 patients (ERSS 10.3 to 77.9) were treated topically with mometasone furoate cream (a topical anti-inflammatory) twice daily. In stage 2 of the study, 23 patients (ERSS 12.5 to 67.1) were treated topically with nadifloxacin 1% cream (a potent topical fluoroquinolone antibiotic) once daily in the morning, in combination with prednicarbate 0.25% cream (a topical glucocorticosteroid) once daily in the evening. In stage 3 of the study, five patients (ERSS > 50) received topical nadifloxacin and prednicarbate 0.25% cream in combination with the systemic retinoid isotretinoin 10–20 mg/day. Rash severity was reassessed after three weeks of specific therapy to manage the dermatologic reaction.
Retrospective, uncontrolled, comparative study
Patients' EGFRI-associated rash severity improved significantly with all three dermatological treatments, which are aligned with recent expert recommendations: topical mometasone furoate cream (p = 0.00009); nadifloxacin 1% cream and prednicarbate 0.25% cream (p = 0.03); and nadifloxacin 1% cream and prednicarbate 0.25% cream plus systemic isotretinoin (p = 0.015).
In summary, the results demonstrate that EGFRI-associated rashes can be effectively managed by specific dermatologic interventions, including topical glucocorticosteroids, topical antiseptics/antibiotics, and systemic retinoids. Topical mometasone furoate cream was the only therapy that resulted in a complete resolution of all rash symptoms in one patient.
Nurses should consider treating mild to moderate EGFRI skin rashes with basic skin care measures in combination with topical glucocorticosteroids or combined regimens using glucocorticosteroids and antiseptics/antibiotics. Nurses should be aware that more severe or therapy-resistant rashes may respond with the addition of systemic retinoids.