2012 Feb: Chemotherapy and Fingerprint Loss: Beyond Cosmetic (hand foot syndrome - chemotherapy induced/capecitabine) - case report

INTRODUCTION

Hand–foot syndrome (HFS), or palmar–plantar erythrodysesthesia,
is a distinct localized skin reaction characterized by erythema,
numbness, tingling, and either dysesthesia or
paresthesia, especially on the palms or soles. Symptoms include
pain and swelling, and can progress to blistering, desquamation,
and ulceration [1].

A single report describes the loss of fingerprints as a manifestation
of HFS in a cancer patient who was detained several hours
by airport security as a result [2].

We present the case of a patient who lost his fingerprints during the course of treatment with a capecitabine-based protocol who also experienced stressful and inconvenient administrative delays because of his condition.......

Table 1. National Cancer Institute hand–foot
syndrome grades
Grade Definition

1 Skin changes or dermatitis (e.g., erythema)
without accompanying pain

2 Skin changes (e.g., peeling, blisters, bleeding,
edema) with accompanying pain not
interfering with activities of daily living

3 Ulcerative dermatitis or skin changes with
accompanying pain interfering with activities
of daily living

Abstract/full acess: Hypertension and hand-foot skin reactions related to VEGFR2 genotype and improved clinical outcome following bevacizumab and sorafenib

Background: Hypertension (HT) and hand-foot skin reactions (HFSR) may be related to the activity of bevacizumab and sorafenib. We hypothesized that these toxicities would correspond to favorable outcome in these drugs, that HT and HFSR would coincide, and that VEGFR2 genotypic variation would be related to toxicity and clinical outcomes.

METHODS
Patients and treatment
The analyses were performed on genomic DNA from 178 patients (143 males and 35 females) with solid tumors who received sorafenib (VEGFR2 inhibitor) and/or bevacizumab (anti-VEGF) with or without other agents....cont'd (excerpt from pdf file)

Conclusions: This study suggests that HT and HFSR may be markers for favorable clinical outcome, HT development may be a marker for HFSR, and VEGFR2 alleles may be related to the development of toxicities during therapy with bevacizumab and/or sorafenib.

A double-blind, randomized trial of pyridoxine versus placebo for the prevention of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin-related hand-foot syndrome in gyne

Blogger's Note: in the absence of full access to the article, this conclusion 'needs more research'


"CONCLUSIONS:: Pyridoxine as administered in the current study did not prevent HFS in patients who received PLD. It is possible that QOL is not compromised in patients with HFS because they may have increased social well being while coping with their disease."