Pre-emptive skin treatments to prevent skin toxicity caused by anti-EGFR antibody: the real-world evidence in Japan.

Abstract

Clinically managing skin toxicity associated with anti-EGFR antibody usage to treat colorectal cancer improves quality of life for colorectal cancer patients. This study assesses trends of pre-emptive skin treatments and their impact on subsequent dermatologist visits in Japanese colorectal cancer patients. Pre-emptive treatment status and dermatologist visit data were investigated for 9461 colorectal cancer patients who experienced anti-EGFR antibody treatment. Data were collected from an electronic hospital-based claims database. Pre-emptive treatments increased around 2013. Furthermore, subsequent dermatologist visits decreased significantly among the pre-emptive treatment group (p<0.05). Pre-emptive skin treatments seem to be related to reducing subsequent dermatologist visits by severe skin toxicity prevention and gained popularity in Japan.