Hand-foot syndrome in cancer patients on capecitabine: examining prevalence, impacts, and associated risk factors at a cancer centre in Malaysia

INTRODUCTION

Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) significantly impacts quality of life in cancer patients undergoing capecitabine treatment. This study assessed capecitabine-associated HFS prevalence, its impacts on chemotherapy treatment, and identified risk factors in multiracial Malaysian patients.

METHODS

We included adult cancer patients receiving capecitabine at Sarawak General Hospital for at least two cycles from April 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. HFS rates, time to HFS, and proportions of HFS-related treatment modifications were determined. Characteristics between patients with and without HFS were compared and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for all-grade HFS and grade ≥2.

RESULTS

Among 369 patients, 185 (50.1%) developed HFS, with 14.6% experiencing grade ≥2 and 21.6% (40/185) underwent treatment modifications. Risk factors for all-grade HFS include older age (OR 1.03 95%CI 1.01, 1.06), prior chemotherapy (OR 2.09 95%CI 1.22, 3.58), higher capecitabine dose (OR 2.96 95%CI 1.62, 5.38), prolonged treatment (OR 1.36 95%CI 1.21, 1.51), folic acid intake (OR 3.27 95%CI 1.45, 7.35) and lower neutrophil count (OR 0.77 95%CI 0.66, 0.89). For HFS grade ≥2, older age (OR 1.04 95%CI 1.01, 1.08), female sex (OR 2.10 95%CI 1.05, 4.18), Chinese race (OR 2.10 95%CI 1.06, 4.18), and higher capecitabine dose (OR 2.62 95%CI 1.28, 5.35) are significant risk factors. Use of calcium channel blockers were associated with reduced risks of all-grade HFS (OR 0.27, 95%CI 0.12, 0.60) and grade ≥2 (OR 0.21 95%CI 0.06, 0.78).

CONCLUSION

This study provides real-world data on capecitabine-induced HFS in Malaysian patients and identifies risk factors that may offer insights into its understanding and management.

Capecitabine-Induced Genital Hand-Foot Syndrome Treated With Topical Tacrolimus

We describe a rare case of capecitabine-induced palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE), or hand-foot syndrome (HFS), involving the genitals, which resolved with tacrolimus therapy, in a patient with cT3dN3 stage IIIc moderately differentiated proximal rectal adenocarcinoma who was undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Given its severe impact on the quality of life, HFS often requires independent local anti-inflammatory treatment and subsequent dose delay and/or modification of the patient's chemotherapy. We believe that our findings in this report can aid clinicians in the early recognition and management of capecitabine-associated HFS resulting in balanitis, as prompt treatment may reduce morbidity and avoid prolonged interruption of chemotherapy in these patients.

Hand-foot syndrome induced by chemotherapy drug: Case series study and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Chemotherapy drugs can be responsible of several side effects such as hand-foot syndrome (HFS). This syndrome is also called "palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia" and "acral erythema." Without proper management, it can deteriorate the quality of life of a patient, leading to temporary or definitive stop of chemotherapy.

AIM OF THIS STUDY

To identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients, the risk factors for occurrence and worsening of this syndrome, and the drugs most likely to be responsible of HFS.

METHODS

Our study was retrospective, including 42 patients with HFS secondary to a chemotherapy drug. These cases were notified to the National Center of Pharmacovigilance over 7 years. The severity of HFS has been classified according to the NCI-CTCAE v4.0 classification.

RESULTS

Our population was composed of 40 women and 2 men. The mean age was 51 years. Docetaxel was the main drug associated with this adverse effect. Hands were involved in all cases and were sometimes associated with other skin surfaces apart from feet. Erythema of the hands and/or feet was present in all patients; it was associated with edema in more than half of the cases. The distribution of different grades according to the NCI-CTCAE classification among the patients was almost equal: 28% Grade 1, 36% Grade 2, and 36% Grade 3. HFS occurred mainly after the first course of chemotherapy with a mean period of 3-4 days. The regression of HFS occurred more rapidly for Grade 1 and Grade 2 compared with Grade 3, especially when assisted by symptomatic treatment. The recurrence rate of HFS for those patients with decreased doses, spacing of cures, and/or symptomatic and prophylaxis treatment was 25%.

CONCLUSION

An early detection of HFS, associated with preventive measures, enables patients to continue the chemotherapy.

Paclitaxel-Induced Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia

Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE) is an uncommon adverse event with paclitaxel. We report a case of PPE due to paclitaxel to create awareness and review management strategies. A 61-year-old female with locally advanced lobular breast cancer was started on neoadjuvant chemotherapy with four cycles of dose-dense doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. She completed these chemotherapy cycles uneventfully and was started on weekly paclitaxel (80mg/m²) with a gap of two weeks. After receiving the sixth dose of paclitaxel, the patient presented with erythema, swelling, and discomfort of her hands and feet, interfering with her quality of life due to difficulty in carrying out daily routine activities. The changes were acute, occurred within a few days after the sixth dose of paclitaxel, and were consistent with PPE grade 2. Paclitaxel was discontinued, and the patient was switched to docetaxel every three weeks for two cycles. She used emollients and moisturizing creams for her local symptoms, after stopping paclitaxel, erythema, swelling, and discomfort of her hands and feet resolved within two weeks. She did not have a recurrence of these symptoms with docetaxel. Paclitaxel can cause PPE. Its incidence in the literature might be underreported. Discontinuation of paclitaxel can reverse skin toxicity and improve patient’s quality of life.

Therapeutic Apheresis, Circulating PLD, and Mucocutaneous Toxicity: Our Clinical Experience through Four Years

Cancer treatment has been greatly improved by the combined use of targeted therapies and novel biotechnological methods. Regarding the former, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) has a preferential accumulation within cancer tumors, thus having lower toxicity on healthy cells. PLD has been implemented in the targeted treatment of sarcoma, ovarian, breast, and lung cancer. In comparison with conventional doxorubicin, PLD has lower cardiotoxicity and hematotoxicity; however, PLD can induce mucositis and palmo-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE, hand-foot syndrome), which limits its use. Therapeutical apheresis is a clinically proven solution against early PLD toxicity without hindering the efficacy of the treatment. The present review summarizes the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of PLD and the beneficial effects of extracorporeal apheresis on the incidence of PPE during chemoradiotherapy in cancer patients.

Palmar-plantar Erythrodysesthesia with Genital Involvement Secondary to Capecitabine Chemoradiotherapy: A Case Report

Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE) is a common dermatologic adverse reaction secondary to capecitabine use, but the skin toxicity rarely involves the genitals. We describe a case of PPE with scrotal and penile involvement secondary to capecitabine chemotherapy concurrent with radiotherapy. The patient presented with pain and erythema involving the penis and scrotum during the fifth week of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine for T3c N2b M0 low rectal adenocarcinoma. The onset and severity of symptoms in the genitals were loosely associated with the symptoms in the hands and feet. The pain and erythema were self-limiting and improved 11 days after capecitabine discontinuation and local supportive care.

Severe palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia and aplasia in an adult undergoing re-induction treatment with high-dose cytarabine for acute myelogenous leukemia: a possible drug interaction between posaconazole and cytarabine

High-dose cytarabine is recommended for re-induction chemotherapy in patients less than 60 years of age with acute myelogenous leukemia. This case describes a patient receiving high-dose cytarabine for re-induction and subsequently developed tingling and numbness in her hands and feet followed by severe pain, swelling, and erythema consistent with a diagnosis of palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia. Furthermore, the patient's hemoglobin, platelets, and neutrophils did not recover after over 30 days post high-dose cytarabine. The patient was concurrently receiving posaconazole for fungal prophylaxis which was initiated after the induction therapy. We speculate that posaconazole may inhibit the cytarabine efflux through P-glycoprotein inhibition leading to the patient's palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia and subsequent aplasia. Future pharmacokinetic studies need to be conducted to ascertain if posaconazole does influence the pharmacokinetics of cytarabine.

Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia: An uncommon adverse effect of everolimus

Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor everolimus is a novel agent used in endocrine therapy resistant hormone receptor positive metastatic breast cancer. Its use has been associated with clinically significant improvement in the otherwise dismal outcomes of this subset of patients. Rash is a common adverse effect associated with everolimus. However, Hand-foot syndrome is an uncommon toxicity with the use of this drug. We report a case of Grade 3 hand-foot syndrome following institution of everolimus therapy and describe its successful management.

Sorafenib and sunitinib: A dermatologist's perspective

Sorafenib and sunitinib are inhibitors of tumor angiogenesis have recently generated curiosity regarding its role in cutaneous toxicities, which has severely affected the daily activities resulting in interruption or dose modification of therapy in renal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinomas. We discuss the pathophysiology, adverse cutaneous effects and their grading, potential high risk factors, role of gene polymorphism, critical period of hand-foot skin reaction development and their management.

Hand foot syndrome associated with standard dose cytarabine

Hand-foot syndrome, is a side effect of cytotoxic chemotherapy, causes erythema, dysthesias, swelling of palms and soles and sometimes blisters. Rarely, it may ulcerate. The most commonly used drug that frequently causes this reaction is 5-fluorouracil or its prodrug oral capecitabine. High dose cytarabine is known to cause HFS. Here we report a case of HFS caused by standard dose cytarabine.

Skin toxicity after palliative chemotherapy containing pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for ovarian cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Skin toxicity in the course of anticancer treatment occurs in majority of patients and may substantially reduce quality of life. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) is an anthracyclines' derivative with reducing severity of cardiotoxicity and myelosuppression but with localized skin lesions on the palms and the soles (PPE).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The retrospective analysis included medical records of ovarian cancer patients who were treated with PLD due to disease progression after prior therapy. The impact of several factors on the risk and severity of PPE was analyzed.

RESULTS

In analyzed group of ovarian cancer PPE occurred more often in patients who have previously received more than two chemotherapy lines, P=0.09. The risk of PPE increased with the number of chemotherapy cycles, P<0.001 and anemia, P=0.038. In 5% of pts dose reduction was necessary due to PPE.

CONCLUSIONS

Skin toxicity may significantly limit the possibility to continue the treatment. Good communication with patients and their families, close cooperation with family doctors, palliative care and dermatologists is essential for prompt and effective treatment of skin toxicity. Early preventive actions make to alleviate the discomfort associated with skin complications.

The use of cod liver oil by patients receiving pegylated liposomal doxorubicin is associated with a lack of severe palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) is an effective and tolerable agent in the treatment of recurrent and refractory ovarian carcinoma. One of the most common dose-limiting toxicities of PLD is palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE). We report a retrospective review of patients who took cod liver oil (CLO) while being treated with PLD at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. None of the patients required dose reduction, treatment interruption or discontinuation secondary to skin toxicity. No patient experienced grade 2 or greater PPE. The mechanism for the development of PLD-induced PPE is unknown. CLO may possibly mitigate it via decreased extravasation of PLD and/or by a blunting of the local inflammatory response. The effects of CLO should be further evaluated in a prospective, randomized trial, and attempts to elucidate the mechanism by which CLO may exert its effects should be pursued.