Cutaneous Side-effects in a Patient Treated with Gefitinib (Iressa^®)

Abstract

We report the cutaneous side-effects of gefitinib (Iressa^®), a new anticancer agent that acts by inhibiting epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor signal transduction. A 74-year-old man treated with 250mg daily gefitinib developed seborrhea and erythema on his face and dry skin on his lower legs within ten days. Then the acne-like eruption began on his face, chest, upper back, and upper arms as well as dry skin within 2 weeks. The frequency of development of acne-like eruption has been reported in patients treated with gefitinib in the previous trial.