Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions to Targeted Chemotherapeutic Drugs: A Clinico-Epidemiological Study

BACKGROUND: Targeted chemotherapeutic drugs have led to a remarkable improvement in the survival of cancer patients but also have resulted in the increased incidence of uncommon but specific muco-cutaneous adverse effects. AIMS: This study aimed to highlight the spectrum of such cutaneous adverse drug reactions and to derive a causal association. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital-based, descriptive study was carried out in the dermatology outpatient department between August 2016 and July 2018, on patients referred from the state cancer institute, who developed muco-cutaneous lesions after the initiation of targeted chemotherapeutic drugs. RESULTS: A total of 80 patients, 59 (74%) males and 21 (26%) females of mean age 45.83 ± 16.37 years (range 4–70 years) developed one or more uncommon albeit specific muco-cutaneous adverse effects. Among them, papulopustular and acneiform eruptions were found in 21 patients (26.25%), and PRIDE complex was seen in 3 patients. Sixteen patients (20.00%) developed palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, 8 patients (10%) developed lichenoid drug eruption, and 5 patients (6.25%) developed flagellate dermatitis. Twenty-two (27.5%) patients showed nail changes, the most common, being melanonychia. CONCLUSION: There has been a paradigm shift in the management of both hematopoietic and solid cancers with the advent of targeted chemotherapeutic drugs leading to an increase in uncommon and specific drug reactions. Early recognition of these decreases morbidity, improves quality of life, and allows continuation of the life saving chemotherapy.