Dermatological side effects of immunotherapy drugs and targeted cancer therapies: Importance of dermatology and oncology collaboration

2020 ◽  
pp. 107815522097062
Author(s):  
Uğur Çelik ◽  
Ertuğrul H Aydemir ◽  
Burhan Engin ◽  
Muazzez Ç Oba ◽  
Mesut Yılmaz ◽  
...  

Introduction Novel anti-cancer drugs such as targeted cancer therapies and immune check-point inhibitors (ICIs) have adverse events, especially concerning the skin. The aim of this study is to report an overview of the commonly consulted dermatological side effects of ICIs and targeted cancer therapies in clinical practice, along with their management. Methods In this single-center study, we evaluated consecutive oncological patients who were referred from the oncology outpatient clinic to the dermatology outpatient clinic due to skin side effects of ICIs and targeted therapies. All patients were examined and treated at the same day of referral by experienced dermatologists. Patient characteristics, clinical findings, diagnostic workups and treatments were retrieved from outpatient records. Results Sixty three patients were enrolled. Most common diagnoses were lung carcinoma, melanoma and colon carcinoma. Fifty patients (79%) were using targeted therapies while 13 (21%) were using ICIs. Xerosis was the most common side effect (44%), followed by acneiform rash, paronychia, eczema and pruritus. Majority of the side effects were grade 2 and 3. Psoriasis was a common side effect of ICIs. One patient had a newly developed dysplastic nevus on vemurafenib treatment. Oncological treatment was not withheld in any of the patients. Conclusions This study revealed the most commonly consulted skin side effects of novel anti-cancer drugs and their management in daily practice. We underlie the importance of collaborative work of oncology and dermatology professionals as early management of cutaneous side effects of targeted therapies and ICIs improves patient outcomes.

Phlebologie ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 33 (06) ◽  
pp. 202-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Hartmann ◽  
S. Nagel ◽  
T. Erichsen ◽  
E. Rabe ◽  
K. H. Grips ◽  
...  

SummaryHydroxyurea (HU) is usually a well tolerated antineoplastic agent and is commonly used in the treatment of chronic myeloproliferative diseases. Dermatological side effects are frequently seen in patients receiving longterm HU therapy. Cutaneous ulcers have been reported occasionally.We report on four patients with cutaneous ulcers whilst on long-term hydroxyurea therapy for myeloproliferative diseases. In all patients we were able to reduce the dose, or stop HU altogether and their ulcers markedly improved. Our observations suggest that cutaneous ulcers should be considered as possible side effect of long-term HU therapy and healing of the ulcers can be achieved not only by cessation of the HU treatment, but also by reducing the dose of hydroxyurea for a limited time.


2020 ◽  
pp. bjophthalmol-2020-316970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blake Hugo Fortes ◽  
Harris Liou ◽  
Lauren A Dalvin

Background/AimsTo investigate immune-related ophthalmic side effects of systemic checkpoint inhibitors and compare side effect frequency and requirement for cessation of immunotherapy by checkpoint target.MethodsPatients taking immune checkpoint inhibitors at a single centre from January 1, 2010 to February 29, 2020 were retrospectively reviewed for clinical characteristics, treatments and concurrent systemic adverse effects.ResultsOf 996 patients, 28 (2.8%) experienced an ophthalmic side effect that came to the attention of an eye care provider. Mean age at presentation of the side effect was 63 years (median 64, range 25–88). The checkpoint inhibitor most often preceding side effects was pembrolizumab in 12 (43%). The most common side effect was dry eye in 16 (57%), followed by uveitis in 4 (14%) patients, and singular cases of ptosis and binocular diplopia, among others. Ocular surface adverse effects occurred more frequently with programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) targeting therapy. There were no significant differences in the frequency of orbit/ocular adnexa and uveitis or retinal side effects based on checkpoint targets. Follow-up was available in 13 (46%) patients, with mean duration of 20 months (median 16, range 2–52 months). Of these patients, the ophthalmic side effects were controlled without discontinuing therapy in 12 (92%). Checkpoint inhibitor cessation was required in one patient with panuveitis.ConclusionOphthalmic immune-related adverse events are rare but could be more common than previously estimated. PD-L1-directed checkpoint inhibitors may have a slight predilection for ocular surface adverse effects. Most ophthalmic events can be treated with targeted therapy without discontinuation of life-prolonging immunotherapy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 130 (20) ◽  
pp. 1763-1779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srila Gopal ◽  
Kenneth B. Miller ◽  
Iris Z. Jaffe

Molecularly targeted anti-cancer therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment by improving both quality of life and survival in cancer patients. However, many of these drugs are associated with cardiovascular toxicities that are sometimes dose-limiting. Moreover, the long-term cardiovascular consequences of these drugs, some of which are used chronically, are not yet known. Although the scope and mechanisms of the cardiac toxicities are better defined, the mechanisms for vascular toxicities are only beginning to be elucidated. This review summarizes what is known about the vascular adverse events associated with three classes of novel anti-cancer therapies: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, breakpoint cluster-Abelson (BCR-ABL) kinase inhibitors used to treat chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) and immunomodulatory agents (IMiDs) used in myeloma therapeutics. Three of the best described vascular toxicities are reviewed including hypertension, increased risk of acute cardiovascular ischaemic events and arteriovenous thrombosis. The available data regarding the mechanism by which each therapy causes vascular complication are summarized. When data are limited, potential mechanisms are inferred from the known effects of inhibiting each target on vascular cell function and disease. Enhanced understanding of the molecular mechanisms of vascular side effects of targeted cancer therapy is necessary to effectively manage cancer patients and to design safer targeted cancer therapies for the future.


Author(s):  
Antonio Gnoni ◽  
Oronzo Brunetti ◽  
Vito Longo ◽  
Angela Calabrese ◽  
Antonella Argentiero ◽  
...  

Osteoimmunology was coined about twenty years ago to identify a strict cross talk between bone niche and immune system both in physiological and pathological activities, including cancer. Several molecules are involved in the complex interaction between bone niche, immune and cancer cells. The Receptor Activator ok NF-kB (RANK)/RANK Ligand (RANKL/Osteoprotegerin (OPG) pathway plays a crucial role in bone cells/cancer interactions with subsequently immune system control failure, bone destruction, inhibition of effect and metastasis outcome. The bidirectional cross talk between bone and immune system could became a potential target for anticancer drugs. Several studies evidenced a direct anticancer role with improved survival of bone-targeted therapies such as bisphosphonates and RANKL antagonist Denosumab. Conversely, initial data evidenced a possible anti-bone resorption effect of systemic anticancer drugs through and immunomodulation activity, i.e. new generation antiandrogens (Abiraterone) in prostate cancer. All data could open a future rationale of combined bone, immunologic and targeted therapies in cancer treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 1049
Author(s):  
Abanoub Riad ◽  
Andrea Pokorná ◽  
Jitka Klugarová ◽  
Natália Antalová ◽  
Lucia Kantorová ◽  
...  

Young adults had been widely perceived as a low-risk group for COVID-19 severity; therefore, they were deprioritised within the mass vaccination strategies as their prognosis of COVID-19 infection is relatively more favourable than older age groups. On the other hand, vaccination of this demographic group is indispensable to achieve herd immunity. A cross-sectional survey-based study was used to evaluate the side effects of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines among university students in the Czech Republic. The validated questionnaire was delivered in a digital form, and it consisted of demographic data; COVID-19 vaccine-related anamnesis; and local, systemic, orofacial, and skin-related side effects’ prevalence, onset, and duration. Out of the 539 included participants, 70.1% were females and 45.8% were <23 years old. The vast majority (95.2%) reported at least one side effect. The most common side effect was injection site pain (91.8%), followed by fatigue (62.5%), headache (36.4%), and muscle pain (34.9%). The majority of local side effects occurred after both doses (74.4%), while most systemic side effects occurred after the second dose only (56.2%). Most local (94.2%) and systemic (93.3%) side effects resolved within three days after vaccination. Females participants’ adjusted odds ratio (AOR) showed they were 2.566 (CI 95%: 1.103–5.970) times more likely to experience post-vaccination side effects, and the participants who received two doses reported an increased AOR of 1.896 (0.708–5.077) for experiencing side effects. The results of this study imply that mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines are highly probably safe for young adults, and further studies are required to investigate the role of medical anamnesis, prior COVID-19 infection, and gender in side effects incidence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 92 (9) ◽  
pp. 698-701
Author(s):  
Daniel Gabbai ◽  
Aya Ekshtein ◽  
Omer Tehori ◽  
Oded Ben-Ari ◽  
Shachar Shapira

INTRODUCTION: On December 2020 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the emergency use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. This new vaccine has several side effects that can potentially impair function, which warrants special attention regarding aircrews fitness to fly following vaccination.METHODS: A survey was conducted in the Israeli Air Force (IAF) Aeromedical Center in order to characterize the side effects and their duration following Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine administration to aviators.RESULTS: The most common side effect was injection site pain. Headache, chills, myalgia, fatigue, and weakness were more common following the second dose administration. The difference is statistically significant. Following the second vaccine, duration of side effects was longer compared to the first vaccine (P-value 0.002).CONCLUSION: The IAF Aeromedical center policy for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine recipients among aircrew members, based on side effects duration and severity, is to temporarily ground from flight duties for 24 and 48 h following the first and the second dose, respectively.Gabbai D, Ekshtein A, Tehori O, Ben-Ari O, Shapira S. COVID-19 vaccine and fitness to fly. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(9):698701.


2020 ◽  
pp. 112067212096904
Author(s):  
Blake H Fortes ◽  
Harris Liou ◽  
Lauren A Dalvin

Purpose: To investigate ophthalmic side effects of taxanes and compare side effect frequency, requirement for cessation of taxane therapy, visual acuity outcome, and concurrent systemic effects between paclitaxel and docetaxel. Methods: Patients taking taxanes at a single center from 1/1/2010 to 2/29/2020 were retrospectively reviewed for clinical characteristics, treatments, and concurrent systemic adverse effects. Results: Of 1918 patients, 22 (1.1%) experienced an ophthalmic side effect that came to the attention of an eye care provider. Mean age at presentation of the side effect was 62 years (median 66, range 23–82). The most common side effect was meibomian gland dysfunction in 5 (23%) patients, followed by cystoid macular edema in 4 (18%) patients and canalicular obstruction in 4 (18%) patients, followed by diplopia in 2 (9%) patients, and singular cases of lash alopecia, and blepharitis, among others. Lids/lashes as well as nasolacrimal duct adverse effects occurred more frequently with docetaxel therapy than with paclitaxel therapy. Follow-up was available in 10 (45%) patients, with mean duration of 5 months (median 4, range 0–12 months). Of these patients, the ophthalmic side effects were resolved or controlled without discontinuing therapy in 8 (80%) patients. Taxane cessation was required in one patient with docetaxel-related canalicular obstruction and one patient with paclitaxel-related cystoid macular edema. Conclusion: Ophthalmic taxane-related adverse events are rare with estimated frequency of ophthalmic side effects of about 1%. Nevertheless, it is important that ophthalmologists recognize the range of side effects for optimal management. Most ophthalmic events can be treated with targeted therapy without discontinuation of life-prolonging taxane therapy.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1251
Author(s):  
Hui Min Tan ◽  
Susan Swee-Shan Hue ◽  
Aileen Wee ◽  
Kay Choong See

With the rapid development of various coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in a bid to counter and contain the COVID-19 pandemic, unusual and uncommon side effects of COVID-19 vaccination have been increasingly reported in the literature. Ipsilateral lymphadenopathy is a fairly common side effect of vaccination of any kind, with its etiology most commonly related to reactive lymphadenopathy. However, Kikuchi–Fujimoto Disease (KFD) or necrotizing histiocytic lymphadenitis is rarely observed post-vaccination, with only one other case of KFD post COVID-19 vaccination reported to date. We report two more cases of KFD post COVID-19 vaccination in the Asian population, highlighting the clinical course and salient clinical, radiological and histologic findings. In addition, we provide a literature review of the existing cases of lymphadenopathy post COVID-19 vaccination with cytologic and/or histologic correlation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 843-848
Author(s):  
Manikkam Rajalakshmi ◽  

Identification of the toxicity of compounds is more crucial before entering clinical trials. Awareness of physiochemical properties, possible targets and side effects has become a major public health issue to reduce risks. Experimental determination of analyzing the physiochemical properties of a drug, their interaction with specific receptors and identifying their side-effects remain challenging is time consuming and costly. We describe a manually compiled database named DaiCee database, which contains 2100 anticancer drugs with information on their physiochemical properties, targets of action and side effects. It includes both synthetic and herbal anti-cancer compounds. It allows the search for SMILES notation, Lipinski’s and ADME/T properties, targets and side effect profiles of the drugs. This helps to identify drugs with effective anticancer properties, their toxic nature, drug-likeness for in-vitro and in-vivo experiments. It also used for comparative analysis and screening of effective anticancer drugs using available data for compounds in the database. The database will be updated regularly to provide the users with latest information. The database is available at the URL http://www.hccbif.org/usersearch.php


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