A Case of Successful Treatment with Kampo Medicine to the Adverse Skin Reactions Induced by Cetuximab

Tomofumi Hoshino; Asako Okamura; Masahiro Tamano; Shiro Kato

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A Case of Successful Treatment with Kampo Medicine to the Adverse Skin Reactions Induced by Cetuximab

VernacularTitle:A Case of Successful Treatment with Kampo Medicine to the Adverse Skin Reactions Induced by Cetuximab
Author: Tomofumi HOSHINO ¹ ; Asako OKAMURA ² ; Masahiro TAMANO ³ ; Shiro KATO ⁴
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1. National Hospital Organization, Kasumigaura Medical Center, Department of Otolaryngology
2. University of Tsukuba Hospital
3. Tsukuba Central Hospital, Department of gynecology
4. Toho University, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science
Keywords: unseiin; shiunko; molecularly-targeted therapy; cetuximab; adverse skin reactions
From:Kampo Medicine 2017;68(4):333-338
CountryJapan
Language:Japanese
Abstract: Molecularly-targeted agents such as cetuximab, an anti-EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) monoclonal antibody have been used for the treatment of head and neck cancer. However, these agents frequently induce adverse skin reactions including acne-like rash and paronychia. For these problems, minocycline oral and heparinoid or steroid ointments, are commonly used. Some patients, however, cannot be controlled just by using these drugs. This case report shows a man in his 50s, who was treated for recurrence of nasal cancer. He received a long-term cetuximab therapy for 1 year and a half, and had severe paronychia and skin rash. Medication of unseiin and shiunko ointment decreased these adverse skin reactions, especially, paronychia on his first toes didn't need to be treated by steroid ointment anymore. When the common skin therapies are not effective, these Kampo therapies are possibly one of the options for the supportive care for the patients using cetuximab.