Acute cutaneous reactions to docetaxel, a new chemotherapeutic agent

Abstract

<h3>Background:</h3> Docetaxel (RP 56976) is a new chemotherapeutic agent that has shown promise in a number of animal studies and is currently undergoing phase I and phase II trials. Early in the phase I trials, it was noted that a significant number of patients were experiencing a variety of cutaneous complaints, so we elected to prospectively evaluate the cutaneous reactions occurring during the first three courses of therapy in the first 12 patients enrolled for phase I chemotherapy at our institutions. <h3>Observations:</h3> All but one patient had some type of cutaneous eruption over the three courses of therapy. Of the 27 evaluable courses of docetaxel given, 19 (70%) resulted in a cutaneous eruption with four (21%) being asymptomatic and 15 (79%) being at least mildly symptomatic. The most common reaction seen was characterized by discrete erythematous to violaceous patches or edematous plaques similar to acral erythema. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> Although a majority of patients receiving docetaxel experience some degree of cutaneous reaction, the eruptions are usually mildly symptomatic and almost always self-limiting. (Arch Dermatol. 1995;131:202-206)