Abstract
Although epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors are one of the most effective treatment options for lung cancer, they frequently cause cutaneous toxicity. In order to continue using EGFR inhibitors, it is necessary to reduce and ameliorate cutaneous toxicity. Dryness, one of the most common forms of cutaneous toxicity, is usually treated using medical moisturizing agents such as heparin analog-containing products and white petrolatum. However, to ensure continued use by patients, the moisturizer should spread easily and not have a viscous texture. This study included 12 lung cancer patients who were undergoing EGFR inhibitor treatment and using topical medical moisturizers. The participants were divided into two groups, one that continued the application of medical moisturizers and another that switched to NOV○R skin cream D. We assessed and compared the skin condition (dryness, itching, and erythema) and stratum corneum condition (water content, IL-1ra/IL-1α content, thymic stromal lymphopoietin content, degree of multilayer exfoliation, and trypsin activity) between the sites where the product was (the inner forearm) and was not (the upper back) applied. Moreover, we assessed the patients’quality of life (QOL) and a questionnaire on the patients’opinions of the products was administered. After eight weeks, the patients who switched to NOV ○R skin cream D presented with significantly lower degrees of multilayer exfoliation and lower symptom scores, but there was almost no difference in the other parameters investigated. NOV○R skin cream D may not only improve cutaneous toxicity caused by EGFR inhibitors, similar to conventional medical moisturizers, but also improve the QOL. This may help prevent discontinuation of the use of EGFR inhibitors, thereby ensuring continuous therapeutic effects. Skin Research, 19 :38-46, 2020
