Consultation of Cutaneous Toxicity of Oncological Treatements

At the Clínica de Dermatologia Grupo Sofia Magina, the physicians responsible for the Skin Toxicity of Oncological Treatments are Prof.ª Sofia Magina and Dr. Nuno Gomes, dermatologists who are part of a work team on Dermatology for Oncology Patients of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

 

In the treatment of cancer, drugs with a very different cutaneous toxicity profile are used. Classical chemotherapy is mainly associated with short-term and relatively predictable side effects. On the contrary, the advent of targeted treatments and immunotherapy, particularly in the last decade, has led to the emergence of many cutaneous toxicities that require specific observation by a dermatologist. This concerns variable skin reaction patterns, namely maculopapular or papulopustular rash, pruritus, psoriasis, lichen planus, bullous pemphigoid, among others. Several studies have shown that the presence of dermatologists in the diagnosis and treatment of skin toxicities is an added value and can be essential to avoid the suspension of certain drugs. In addition to these treatments, other therapeutic techniques such as radiotherapy can also have cutaneous toxicity.

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Chemotherapy treatments, target drugs (EGFR inhibitors, BRAF-MEK inhibitors, among others) and immunotherapy (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, among others) are used in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma, lung cancer, renal cell cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer and other types of cancer. The aim of this consultation is to identify the cutaneous toxicities of this type of treatment, with a careful diagnostic evaluation and an effective therapeutic strategy, in close collaboration with the clinicians responsible for treating cancer, such as oncologists, pulmonologists, urologists or haematologists.