A Case of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patient Whose Dermatologic Adverse Reactions Associated with the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-inhibitors were Relieved with the Treatment of a Herbal medicine, Samultang-gagambang

비소세포폐암 환자의 표피성장인자 수용체 억제제 치료와 관련된 피부의 이상반응이 사물탕 가감방 투여로 호전된 1례

Objectives : Epidermal growth factor receptor-inhibitors have demonstrated improved overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, but their use is associated with dermatologic adverse reactions that often require symptomatic treatment. Methods : A 44-year-old woman, who started the chemotherapy of Iressa$^{(R)}$ on August 2010, developed cutaneous symptoms such as papulopustular rash, dry skin, and pruritus on her face and scalp after taking Iressa$^{(R)}$ for four weeks. The patient visited our clinic with such symptoms on March 2011 and underwent herebal remedy targeted to alleviate the skin reactions. The severity of dermatologic symptoms was evaluated with the numeric rating scale and the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Results : Noticeable changes on the skin lesion were observed after the two months of treatment, without any dose modification of the Iressa$^{(R)}$. The cutaneous symptoms as papulopustular rash, dry skin and pruritus were improved and there was no adverse event induced by the treatment with herbal medicine. Conclusions : This case report suggests that the treatment with a herbal medicine, Samultang-gagambang be considered as a useful treatment to relieve EGFR-inhibitor induced dermatologic adverse reactions.