Pruritus in patients treated with targeted cancer therapies: Systematic review and meta-analysis Journal Article


Authors: Ensslin, C. J.; Rosen, A. C.; Wu, S.; Lacouture, M. E.
Article Title: Pruritus in patients treated with targeted cancer therapies: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract: Background Pruritus has been anecdotally described in association with targeted cancer therapies. The risk of pruritus has not been systematically ascertained. Objective A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was conducted for axitinib, cetuximab, dasatinib, erlotinib, everolimus, gefitinib, imatinib, ipilimumab, lapatinib, nilotinib, panitumumab, pazopanib, rituximab, sorafenib, temsirolimus, tositumomab, vandetanib, and vemurafenib. Methods Databases from PubMed, Web of Science (January 1998 through July 2012), and American Society of Clinical Oncology abstracts (2004 through 2012) were searched. Incidence and relative risk of pruritus were calculated using random- or fixed-effects model. Results The incidences of all-grade and high-grade pruritus were 17.4% (95% confidence interval 16.0%-19.0%) and 1.4% (95% confidence interval 1.2%-1.6%), respectively. There was an increased risk of all-grade pruritus (relative risk 2.90 [95% confidence interval 1.76-4.77, P <.001]) and variation among different drugs (P <.001). Limitations The reporting of pruritus may vary, resulting from concomitant medications, comorbidities, and underlying malignancies. We found a higher incidence of pruritus in patients with solid tumors, concordant with those targeted therapies with the highest pruritus incidences. Conclusion There is a significant risk of developing pruritus in patients receiving targeted therapies. To prevent suboptimal dosing and decreased quality of life, patients should be counseled and treated against this untoward symptom.
Keywords: epidermal growth factor receptor; inhibitor; pruritus; cd20; mammalian target of rapamycin; bcr-abl; raf; itch; vascular endothelial growth factor receptor
Journal Title: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume: 69
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0190-9622
Publisher: Mosby Elsevier  
Date Published: 2013-11-01
Start Page: 708
End Page: 720
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.06.038
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 23981682
PMCID: PMC4181350
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 1 November 2013" - "CODEN: JAADD" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Mario E Lacouture
    457 Lacouture
  2. Alyx C Rosen
    20 Rosen