HLA polymorphisms influence the development of skin rash arising from treatment with EGF receptor inhibitors.

Aim: Development of a skin rash under treatment with EGF receptor (EGFR) inhibitors (EGFRIs) has been linked to a favorable prognosis in some studies, suggesting a possible immunological role for EGFRIs in addition to direct antagonistic downstream effects. The present study aimed to investigate whether particular HLA polymorphisms found in cancer patients treated with EGFRIs are associated with the development of skin rash and overall survival rates.

Patients & Methods: HLA typing was performed on 105 cancer patients and the development of skin rash was rated during the first 4 weeks of therapy with EGFRIs.