A new analysis of 65,116 patients with tumors who were treated with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs) found that these drugs are linked to a high rate of rash. The study, which combined results from many clinical trials, reported that 52.30% of patients experienced any rash, and 9.50% had a high-grade rash, which can be severe. The findings were published as a meta-analysis, a type of study that pools data from multiple studies to get a more reliable estimate.
The analysis also looked at specific groups. It found that the risk of rash was higher in Asian patients, in those using EGFR monoclonal antibodies (a type of EGFRI), in phase III clinical trials, and when EGFRIs were combined with other treatments. However, one drug, Aumolertinib, had a significantly lower risk of rash compared to others. The type of tumor and the year of publication did not affect the rash risk.
Rash is a common side effect of EGFRIs, and while it is not usually life-threatening, it can be uncomfortable and affect quality of life. The study did not report on serious adverse events or how many patients stopped treatment due to rash.
Because this is a meta-analysis, it provides strong evidence, but it is important to remember that the results are based on pooled data and may not apply to every individual. The researchers suggest that for Asian patients using EGFR monoclonal antibodies in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, early prevention and treatment of rash could be considered. However, this is not a recommendation for individual patients; always talk to your doctor about your specific situation.
