Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Caused by Enzalutamide: A Case Report and Literature Review

Diagnosis and Management of Skin Toxicities in Systemic Treatment of Genitourinary Cancers

The landscape of available therapeutic options for treatment of genitourinary (GU) cancers is expanding dramatically. Many of these treatments have distinct, sometimes severe, skin toxicities including morbilliform, bullous, pustular, lichenoid, eczematous, psoriasiform, and palmoplantar eruptions. Pruritus and skin pigmentation changes have also been noted. This review aims to synthesize dermatologic events observed with antibody drug conjugates, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, androgen receptor pathway inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and the combination of these agents used for the treatment of GU cancers. It provides a guide on diagnosis and initial management of these rashes for medical oncologists.

The spectrum of cutaneous toxicities related to novel genitourinary cancer therapies

CONTEXT

Genitourinary cancers (GUCs) encompass malignancies affecting the urinary and reproductive systems, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC), urothelial carcinoma (UC), and prostate cancer (PC). With the rapidly evolving therapeutic domain of these cancers, cutaneous adverse events (AEs) remain among the most observed toxicities.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the dermatologic AEs linked to novel GUC treatments, their underlying pathophysiology, clinical presentations, and risk factors.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A narrative review of the literature from PubMed and Embase databases was conducted. The search strategy included dermatologic/cutaneous adverse events, risk factors, and pathophysiology in conjunction with the following classes of therapies; immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), antiangiogenic therapies, enfortumab vedotin (EV), erdafitinib, and androgen receptor antagonists (ARAs).

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Maculopapular rash, pruritus, and alopecia are present among the five classes of therapies. ICIs demonstrate the highest incidence of severe drug AEs including Steven Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis. Unique cutaneous AEs present with specific therapies including hand-foot skin reaction and subungual splinter hemorrhage with antiangiogenic drugs, stomatitis/mucositis and onycholysis with erdafitinib. Incidence and type of cutaneous AE also differed within therapies in the same class as seen with apalutamide displaying the highest risk of cutaneous AEs within ARAs. Risk factors for development of cutaneous AEs can be general to therapies, or specific, and include age, immune status, BMI, and gender.

CONCLUSIONS

Dermatologic AEs may impact patients' quality of life and increase the tendency to dose reduce, hold or discontinue life-saving therapies, underscoring the need for vigilant monitoring, early recognition, and collaborative management between medical oncologists, pharmacists, dermatologists and other specialists.

Phase 1b study of enzalutamide plus CC-115, a dual mTORC1/2 and DNA-PK inhibitor, in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)

BACKGROUND

CC-115, a dual mTORC1/2 and DNA-PK inhibitor, has promising antitumour activity when combined with androgen receptor (AR) inhibition in pre-clinical models.

METHODS

Phase 1b multicentre trial evaluating enzalutamide with escalating doses of CC-115 in AR inhibitor-naive mCRPC patients (n = 41). Primary endpoints were safety and RP2D. Secondary endpoints included PSA response, time-to-PSA progression, and radiographic progression.

RESULTS

Common adverse effects included rash (31.7% Grades 1-2 (Gr); 31.7% Gr 3), pruritis (43.9% Gr 1-2), diarrhoea (37% Gr 1-2), and hypertension (17% Gr 1-2; 9.8% Gr 3). CC-115 RP2D was 5 mg twice a day. In 40 evaluable patients, 80% achieved ≥50% reduction in PSA (PSA50), and 58% achieved ≥90% reduction in PSA (PSA90) by 12 weeks. Median time-to-PSA progression was 14.7 months and median rPFS was 22.1 months. Stratification by PI3K alterations demonstrated a non-statistically significant trend towards improved PSA50 response (PSA50 of 94% vs. 67%, p = 0.08). Exploratory pre-clinical analysis suggested CC-115 inhibited mTOR pathway strongly, but may be insufficient to inhibit DNA-PK at RP2D.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of enzalutamide and CC-115 was well tolerated. A non-statistically significant trend towards improved PSA response was observed in patients harbouring PI3K pathway alterations, suggesting potential predictive biomarkers of response to a PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitor.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02833883.

Enzalutamide-Induced Acute Maculopapular Rash in Treatment of Metastatic Prostate Cancer: First Case Report from a Tertiary Cancer Care Center of North India

Enzalutamide is a new potent inhibitor of the signaling pathway for the androgen receptor with a half-life of 5.8 days. It has been on the market for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer since November 2013. We report a case of acute generalized exanthematous maculopapular rash induced by enzalutamide. In summary, newer androgen receptor blockers have a propensity to cause skin related adverse effects. Most common among these are apalutamide. Enzalumatamide, per se, is a safe drug and has not been associated frequently in causing maculopapular rash. Few cases has been reported. In all these cases, the drug was discontinued and 2nd line therapy was instituted. In this report, Enzalutamide was withheld for 10 days and anti-histaminics was instituted. After a full recovery, Enzalutamide was reinstituted in treatment. A 62-year-old male patient with no significant medical history, was diagnosed in March 2020 with metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma. Baseline PSA was 456 ng/ml. PSMA PET scan showed evidence of multiple bony metastasis. He was started on Degarelix subcutaneous injection with oral abiraterone initially. PSA level showed initial decreasing trend till September 2021 followed by sudden increase. Intramuscular Injection leuprolide was started and initial responses were good followed by later rise of PSA from January. Tab Xtandi (Enzalutamide) was added to the regimen from 31.1.22. Three days after starting enzalutamide treatment, the patient experienced an acute skin reaction. It is about of the plaques covered with widespread millimetric non-follicular papules. Enzalutamide was stopped after appearance of rashes to avoid further serious adverse effects. Anti-histaminics were started. Complete resolution of skin lesions occurred within 10 days. Tab Enzalutamide was reinstituted on 11th day after stoppage and on complete resolution of skin resolutions. According to the CTCAE 5.0 criteria, these skin rash was graded as grade 2. In view of evidence in literature and clinical improvement after stoppage, the acute drug reaction was attributed to enzalutamide. Uro oncologist can be confronted with adverse skin drug reactions attributable to new therapeutic molecules. The slow resolution of symptoms seems be due to the long half-life of enzalutamide. It should not be withdrawn from therapy owing to these effects. Rather, it should be with stopped for 10-14 days. Basic treatment with anti-histaminics or topical steroids may be enough to warranty the resolution of symptoms, and the drug (Enzalutamide) can be continued thereafter.

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, A Serious Side Effect of Tenoxicam Use: A Case Report

Tenoxicam, a selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor, has potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and is frequently used for out-of-hospital pain control. Even though other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were incriminated in Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) appearance, the literature is scarce regarding this agent. We report a case of tenoxicam-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis, detailing the multidisciplinary approach in a patient presenting skin detachment of 90% of the total body surface area, with concomitant ocular, oral, nasal, and vaginal mucosae involvement. A skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. The immediate cessation of the incriminated drug and rapid initiation of systemic steroids, along with topical therapies, and isolation into a specific environmental condition to limit skin infection were the cornerstones of therapeutic management. The patient was discharged with skin hyperpigmentation area and mild anxiety as long-term sequels. This report emphasized that severe or complicated cases should be transferred to a specialized burn center to reduce mortality risk and long-term morbidity.