Therapy with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors

Recently, inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), such as erlotinib, gefitinib, cetuximab or panitumumab, have been successfully established in the therapy of a variety of solid tumors. Cutaneous adverse effects are the most frequent side-effects of these so-called targeted cancer drugs and occur in 45-100% of patients. In addition to a characteristic papulo-pustular rash, adverse effects include painful paronychia, xerosis cutis, pruritus, alopecia or alterations of the hair structure. These often stigmatizing side-effects represent a serious threat to the patients' quality of life and compliance and may lead to dose-reduction or even cessation of the antineoplastic therapy. Considering the steadily growing numbers of patients who receive EGFR-targeting therapy, these medicament-associated cutaneous adverse effects are becoming increasingly more important in the routine clinical practice of dermatologists and oncologists.