Eruption of squamous cell carcinomas after beginning nilotinib therapy

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is characterized by a reciprocal translocation between the long arms of chromosomes 9 and 22 leading to the formation of a constitutively active tyrosine kinase. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the treatment of choice for patients diagnosed with CML and have many associated side effects including the rarely-reported eruption of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Herein, we report a patient with CML who presented with sudden onset of multiple scaly lesions on his legs and trunk after beginning treatment with nilotinib, a novel TKI. Six biopsies were performed at his initial presentation and four of these lesions were confirmed to be keratoacanthoma-type SCCs. One month later, the patient reported the development of multiple new similar lesions on his legs, arms, and face. Four more biopsies were performed revealing keratoacanthoma-type and well-differentiated SCCs. Certain tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as sorafenib and quizartinib have been...
Source: Dermatology Online Journal - Category: Dermatology Source Type: research