Revolutionizing Onco-Dermatology Techniques and Managing Adverse Effects

The field of onco-dermatology has witnessed significant advancements, which have impacted clinical practice and enhanced the supportive care provided to patients with cancer.

Jonathan Leventhal, MD, emphasized that the landscape of clinical trials and studies is continuously refining strategies to optimize outcomes for patients experiencing dermatologic adverse effects. A notable breakthrough pertains to targeted cancer therapies, particularly EGFR inhibitors. Research has now demonstrated that preemptive treatment with topical agents and oral antibiotics can effectively reduce the severity of associated rashes, offering a proactive measure to improve patient comfort and treatment adherence.

Beyond targeted therapies, a major stride in recent years has been the widespread adoption of scalp cooling for hair loss associated with chemotherapy, especially for women with breast cancer. Scalp cooling can improve the quality of life by preserving hair during treatment. Ongoing studies at Yale continue to uncover novel treatments and approaches for managing the diverse cutaneous toxicities of cancer treatment.

Leventhal highlighted that he needed to stay abreast of these rapid developments, as these advances directly inform daily practice, allowing for more effective prevention and management of dermatologic complications and ultimately contributing to better patient care.

Leventhal is the director of the Residency Program, director of the Onco-Dermatology Clinic, and associate professor term at Yale School of Medicine.

Transcript:

The field is moving rapidly. There are [many] clinical trials and studies looking to optimize outcomes. A lot depends on the type of cancer therapy. For instance, with targeted cancer therapy, studies have now shown that if we preemptively treat patients with topical agents and oral antibiotics before starting targeted treatments such as EGFR inhibitors, we can reduce the severity of the rash. One of the major breakthroughs in recent years has been in preserving hair on the scalp in patients, especially women, with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Scalp cooling has been a major breakthrough in helping women preserve their hair during treatment, and it improves quality of life dramatically. There are a lot of new studies that are showing us novel treatments and approaches for managing the toxicities of cancer treatment. All of this impacts my clinic on a day-to-day basis, while staying on top of all the new studies. We’re also conducting various studies at Yale as well investigating the best approaches for treating and preventing the cutaneous toxicities that we see.