Abstract
BackgroundEpidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors are widely prescribed anticancer drugs. Patients treated commonly develop dermatologic adverse drugs reactions, but rarely they are involved in systematic evaluation of their quality of life. This monocentric cross sectional study is carried out to assess quality of life in colon cancer patients experienced skin side effects due to anti epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors therapy.MethodsConsecutive patients with skin side effects to therapy treated at Fondazione Poliambulanza were enrolled in this study. Quality of life was evaluated with the Italian validated version of Skindex-29 questionnaire, exploring three dimensions: symptoms, emotional, and physical functioning. Skindex-29 was administered one time between the eighth and the twelfth week of the treatment.ResultsForty-five consecutive patients, mainly with metastatic colon cancer (29 female, 16 male), with an average age of 59.31 years (ranging from 34-78) were included in the study and analyzed. Patients showed a great impact of skin side effects on symptoms (mean 43), followed by emotional (mean 30), and functioning (mean 26) scales. In general women, the 55-65 age class, and patients with partial remission reported the worst quality of life.ConclusionsEpidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors' skin side effects have an important impact on quality of life in advanced colon cancer patients; symptoms scale is the most effect respect to emotional and functioning scales.
Highlights
Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors are widely prescribed anticancer drugs
Patients treated with Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors commonly develop a wide range of dermatologic adverse drug reactions, including a papulopustular rash, dry skin, itching and alterations in hair and periungual tissues, which can result in a decreased quality of life (QoL) [2]
We used the Italian version of a well-known dermatological instrument, the Skindex-29 questionnaire [6,7,8], which is able to better describe and score the real impact of skin toxicities on daily QoL
Summary
Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors are widely prescribed anticancer drugs. Patients treated commonly develop dermatologic adverse drugs reactions, but rarely they are involved in systematic evaluation of their quality of life. This monocentric cross sectional study is carried out to assess quality of life in colon cancer patients experienced skin side effects due to anti epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors therapy. Patients treated with EGFR inhibitors commonly develop a wide range of dermatologic adverse drug reactions, including a papulopustular rash, dry skin, itching and alterations in hair and periungual tissues, which can result in a decreased quality of life (QoL) [2]. We used the Italian version of a well-known dermatological instrument, the Skindex-29 questionnaire [6,7,8], which is able to better describe and score the real impact of skin toxicities on daily QoL
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