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Targeted Therapy– and Chemotherapy-Associated Skin Toxicities: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Jingyi Ding

Magdoleen H. Farah

Tarek Nayfeh

Konstantinos Malandris

Apostolos Manolopoulos

Pamela K. Ginex

Bashar Hasan

Hayley J. Dunnack

Rami Abd-Rabu

Moutie Rajjoub

Larry Prokop

Rebecca L. Morgan

M. Hassan Murad

chemotherapy, skin toxicity, systematic review, meta-analysis, cancer
ONF 2020, 47(5), E149-E160. DOI: 10.1188/20.ONF.E149-E160

Problem Identification: Preventing and managing skin toxicities can minimize treatment disruptions and improve well-being. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for the prevention and management of cancer treatment–related skin toxicities.

Literature Search: The authors systematically searched for comparative studies published before April 1, 2019. Study selection and appraisal were conducted by pairs of independent reviewers.

Data Evaluation: The random-effects model was used to conduct meta-analysis when appropriate.

Synthesis: 39 studies (6,006 patients) were included; 16 of those provided data for meta-analysis. Prophylactic minocycline reduced the development of all-grade and grade 1 acneform rash in patients who received erlotinib. Prophylaxis with pyridoxine 400 mg in capecitabine-treated patients lowered the risk of grade 2 or 3 hand-foot syndrome. Several treatments for hand-foot skin reaction suggested benefit in heterogeneous studies. Scalp cooling significantly reduced the risk for severe hair loss or total alopecia associated with chemotherapy.

Implications for Research: Certainty in the available evidence was limited for several interventions, suggesting the need for future research.

Supplemental material can be found at https://onf.ons.org/supplementary-material-targeted-therapy-and-chemotherapy-associated-skin-toxicity-systematic-review

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