Management of 'in-field' skin toxicity in head and neck cancer patients treated with combined cetuximab and radiotherapy

Abstract

It is well known that the cetuximab (Cet) epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody enhances the sensitivity of tumour cells to radiation, and it is likely that the concurrent administration of Cet and radiotherapy (RT) results in some degree of interplay between the effects of the individual agents on the skin and in the exacerbation of reactions normally seen with these individual agents. In this paper, we present a concise review of Cet/RT-related skin toxicity, focusing on mechanisms and pathogenesis, clinical presentation and scoring systems and, finally, therapeutic management.