Scleroderma‐like cutaneous lesions during treatment with paclitaxel and gemcitabine in a patient with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Review of literature. (25th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Verhulst, Lien; Noë, Esther; Morren, Marie‐Anne; Verslype, Chris; Van Cutsem, Eric; Van den Oord, Joost J.; De Haes, Petra
• Is Part Of: International journal of dermatology. Volume 57:Number 9(2018)
• Page Start: 1075
• Page End: 1079
• Publication Date: 2018-06-25
• Subjects: Scleroderma -- (nab‐) paclitaxel -- gemcitabine -- antinuclear antibodies -- Raynaud's phenomenon; Dermatology -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/ijd.14067
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0011-9059

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Chemotherapy‐induced skin sclerosis is generally not associated with other manifestations of systemic sclerosis. It is featured by skin sclerosis without visceral involvement (i.e., Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, and pulmonary fibrosis), temporal association with chemotherapy administration, and the absence of detectable autoantibodies. The clinical course of scleroderma‐like changes induced by paclitaxel or gemcitabine are refractory to treatment and commonly progressive, even after discontinuation of the triggering drugs. Objective: Report a case of scleroderma‐like cutaneous lesions during combination treatment with nab‐paclitaxel and gemcitabine in a patient with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and determine other published cases of scleroderma‐like skin changes following treatment with nab‐paclitaxel, paclitaxel, or gemcitabine through the period from 2002 to 2018. Methods: Literature search from the year 2002 onwards using combinations of "Scleroderma" AND "paclitaxel, " AND/OR "gemcitabine." Results: Additional to our case report we reviewed 14 other cases in the literature. Most of these cases share three prominent features: skin sclerosis without systemic involvement, temporal association with chemotherapy administration, and absence of detectable scleroderma‐specific autoantibodies. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first case report of scleroderma‐like cutaneous lesions during combination treatment with nab‐paclitaxel and gemcitabine in a patient with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, given the current literature, these scleroderma‐like lesions are most likely induced by nab‐paclitaxel or paclitaxel, rather than by gemcitabine.