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J.C. Pascual, I. Belinchón, F. Sivera, A. Yuste, Severe cutaneous toxicity following treatment with gefitinib (ZD1839), British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 153, Issue 6, 1 December 2005, Pages 1222–1223, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.06885.x
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Conflict of interest: None applicable.
Sir, Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is important for normal skin development and function.1 In normal adult human skin, EGFR is strongly expressed in the keratinocytes and in cells of eccrine and sebaceous glands. In keratinocytes, the expression is highest in the basal layer of the epidermis and in the outer root sheath of hair follicles. The tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors, such as EGFR, and the protein kinases play an important and complex role in neoplastic growth, apoptosis and angiogenesis, and therapies targeting EGFR are now under development.2 Gefitinib (IressaTM; Astra‐Zeneca, Willimington, DE, U.S.A.), is a low‐molecular‐weight compound that inhibits the activation of EGFR tyrosine kinase through competitive binding of the receptor.3 It has recently been approved by the Food and Drugs Administration as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancers after failure of both platinum‐based and docetaxel chemotherapies.4 Gefitinib is well tolerated, with frequent but mild adverse reactions. Reported complications include acneiform lesions, dry skin, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and asthenia.5
