Cytostatic drugs, cutaneous side effects

Frequent cutaneous side effects due to cytostatic drugs

• Bleomycin: flagellant dermatitis; neutrophil eccrine hidradenitis, alopecia, radiato-recall, Beau-Reil lines, onycholysis, brownish lunula discolouration
• Busulfan: hyperpigmentations; radiation recall;
• chlorambucil: see below Chlorambucil, cutaneous side effects (urticaria, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme, maculopapular exanthema)
• Cisplatin: hand-foot syndrome, spotty hyperpigmentation (at pressure points, oral mucosa, nails), leukonychia, Beau-Reil lines
• Cyclophosphamide: hand-foot syndrome, stomatitis, neutrophil eccrine hidradenitis, radiographic recall, hyperpigmentation (gingival, palmo-plantar, nails), alopecia
• Cytarabine: hand-foot syndrome, stomatitis, neutrophil eccrine hidradenitis, alopecia, radiatio recall, Beau-Reil lines, leukonychia
• Cabozantinib: Palmar implant Erythrodysesthesia
• Dacarbazin: hyperpigmentation of the skin, melanonychia
• Daunorubicin: alopecia, radio recall, Beau-Reil lines, Meese bands, onycholysis, melanonychia
• Docetaxel/Paclitaxel: hand-foot syndrome, exanthema, stomatitis, pseudoscleroderma, irritated actinic keratoses, radiotactic recall, Beau-Reil lines, onycholysis, hyperpigmentation
• Doxorubicin: hand-foot syndrome, stomatitis, irritated actinic keratoses, neutrophil eccrine hidradenitis, alopecia, radiotestinal recall, Beau-Reil lines, onycholysis, phototoxicity, hyperpigmentation (face, tongue, buccal mucosa, neck, shoulder, hands, feet, nails),
• Fluorouracil: hand-foot syndrome (rare), radio recall, hyperpigmentation (tongue, conjunctiva, nails), onycholysis, scleronychia, irritated actinic keratoses (see below actinic keratoses)
• Gemcitabine: Exanthema, stomatitis, pseudoscleroderma, alopecia
• Hydroxyurea: exanthema (lichenoid), hand-foot syndrome, ulcers of the extremities, radio recall, hyperpigmentation (tongue, buccal mucosa, nails), alopecia, onycholysis, phototoxicity
• Methotrexate: stomatitis, hand-foot syndrome (rare), ulcers of the extremities, hyperpigmentation of the skin, also stripy hyperpigmentation, hyperpigmentation of the lunulae, hair whitening, Beau-Reil lines, onycholysis
• Taxanes see under Paclitaxel/Docetaxel
• Vinca alkaloids: hand-foot syndrome, polyneuropathy with consecutive dermatological symptoms, alopecia, Beau-Reil lines, leukonychia

1. Pfützner W (2018) Cutaneous drug reactions. In: Plewig G et al. Braun-Falco`s Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology. Springer Reference Medicine, Springer Publishing House S 617

2. Thai KJ et al (2020) Treatment of Cabozantinib-Related Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia With Topical Sildenafil, Diclofenac, and Gabapentin Cream: A Case Report. JCO Oncol Pract 16:135-136.