Is there a risk of rash from treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer with vandetanib?

This meta-analysis summarized studies that looked at the risk of side effects with an anti-cancer drug vandetanib (Caprelsa) for treating patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The authors concluded that treatment with vandetanib resulted in a higher risk of rash for NSCLC patients.

Chemotherapy plus radiotherapy is the current gold standard for the treatment of NSCLC. Chemotherapy however, can have a high level of toxic side effects that can be detrimental to the patients’ health. Therefore new, more effective and safer treatments are required.

Vandetanib is an anti-cancer drug that acts by blocking parts of pathways responsible for cell growth. This results in normal cell death and tumor reduction. Early studies with vandetanib show inconsistent results with side effects including rash.

This study aimed to determine the risk of rash in NSCLC patients during treatment with vandetanib. The authors reviewed studies that looked at vandetanib and its side effects in patients with NSCLC.

Nine trials were included with a total of 4893 patients. 5 of these trials used vandetanib as a monotherapy while 4 trials used it in combination with chemotherapy.

The average incidence of all grade rash was 46%, while the average incidence of high-grade rash was 3.2%. Treatment with vantetanib resulted in 2.35 fold higher risk of rash compared to control therapy. There was a higher risk of high-grade rash when vantetanib was used as first-line treatment.

The authors concluded that treatment with vandetanib results in a higher risk of rash.