Taxane-induced Scleroderma-like Skin Sclerosis

Abstract

We report two cases of taxane-induced scleroderma that resembled skin sclerosis. Case 1: A 37-year old female had received docetaxel and paclitaxel for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. This patient presented with edematous and sclerotic skin on the bilateral extremities six months after administration of docetaxel. Case 2: A 66-year old female had received docetaxel for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. This patient presented with edematous and sclerotic skin on the bilateral lower extremities and left upper arm four months after administration of docetaxel. Cutaneous biopsies from both patients revealed diffuse dermal fibrosis and perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrates in the dermis. Neither patient demonatrated Raynaud’s phenomenon, and all relevant autoantibodies to scleroderma were negative. A brief review of the current literature is presented.