@Article{096504017X14913452320194,
AUTHOR = {Ilias Kainis, Nikolaos Syrigos, Alexandra Kopitopoulou, Ioannis Gkiozos, Effrosyni Filiou, Vasiliki Nikolaou, Evangelia Papadavid},
TITLE = {Erlotinib-Associated Rash in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer:  Relation to Clinicopathological Characteristics,  Treatment Response, and Survival},
JOURNAL = {Oncology Research},
VOLUME = {26},
YEAR = {2018},
NUMBER = {1},
PAGES = {59--69},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/or/v26n1/56618},
ISSN = {1555-3906},
ABSTRACT = {Systematic treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) includes targeted treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The development of skin rash and 
its intensity have been associated with EGFR TKI’s efficacy. The main purpose of this study was to further 
investigate the potential value of erlotinib-associated rash as a predictor of prognosis and treatment response 
in a real-world cohort of patients with advanced NSCLC. The medical records of all NSCLC patients treated 
with erlotinib at the Oncology Unit of GPP, Sotiria Athens General Hospital between January 1, 2014 and 
August 31, 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Seventy-nine patient medical records fulfilled the criteria and 
were included in the study. Development of erlotinib-associated rash was correlated with clinicopathological 
characteristics of patients, treatment response, and overall survival (OS) using univariate and multivariate Cox 
regression analysis. The number of patients with rash was greater in the responders group (90% vs. 46.4%, 
<i>p</i> = 0.015). In univariate analysis, there was a statistically significant association between rash development and 
time to progression (TTP) [HR: 0.32 (0.17–0.57), p<0.001]. With multivariate Cox regression analysis, it was 
found that PS≥2 (HR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.12–3.60, <i>p</i> = 0.018) and rash (HR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.18–0.63, <i>p</i> = 0.001) 
were independently associated with TTP and also that the duration of treatment with erlotinib (HR: 0.58, 95% 
CI: 0.42–0.80, <i>p</i> = 0.001) and rash (HR: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.20–0.48, <i>p</i> = 0.004) was an independent predictor of 
survival. Our results suggest that erlotinib-associated rash may represent a clinically valuable biomarker for the 
prediction of treatment response and OS in patients with advanced NSCLC.},
DOI = {10.3727/096504017X14913452320194}
}