Study shows how to prevent rash from EGFR inhibitors

If you're receiving an EGFR inhibitor to treat your cancer, I have some good news. Doctors now know how to prevent the skin rash that develops in up to 90 percent of patients receiving these drugs.A combination of sunscreen, moisturizers, topical corticosteroids, and the oral antibiotic doxycycline reduced the incidence of severe rash by more than half when given to patients before Vectibix, compared with patients who were treated after the rash developed. The study was reported today at ASCO's annual meeting, and presenter Edith Mitchell, MD, of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, told reporters that her institution has already implemented the rash prevention strategy. Check out the article we ran in the magazine for all the details about this side effect.