Xerosis und Exsikkationsekzem unter Therapie eines metastasierten Adenokarzinoms mit monoklonalem Anti-VEGF-Antikörper Bevacizumab (Avastin®)

Recently, inhibitors of epidermal growth factor (VEGF) were approved by health authorities for treatment of metastatic carcinomas including colorectal and breast carcinoma. During therapy with inhibitors of epidermal growth factor, cutaneous side effects (e. g. acneiform eruptions, xerosis and paronychia) occur very frequently. We report on a 64 year old male patient with pulmonal, pleural, bone metastasis and suspected liver metastasis from an adenocarcinoma of unknown origin. During the therapy he developed within a few weeks generalized xerosis and palmoplantar pronounced asteatotic eczema. This observation, among others, could be a hint that, despite lacking affinity towards the EGF receptor, cutaneous side effects known from blockade of the EGF signal transduction could also occur during therapy with antibodies directed against VEGF in some cases.