Photosensitivity and Other Cutaneous Side Effects of Vemurafenib Therapy

Careful follow-up by dermatologists is recommended for vemurafenib recipients.

Vemurafenib has recently been approved for treating advanced melanoma. Targeting the V600 mutation in BRAF, this agent improves progression-free and overall survival of melanoma patients with tumors carrying that mutation. Keratoacanthomas and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are well-known adverse effects of vemurafenib. Two study groups recently characterized other adverse cutaneous reactions in vemurafenib recipients.

Gelot and colleagues describe vemurafenib-associated photosensitivity in 10 of 18 previously untreated patients with stage IIIc/IV melanoma. Phototesting in all 18 subjects revealed a normal minimal erythema dose (MED) response to ultraviolet (UV) B, but a reduced MED to UVA in 17. Unlike patients with many other forms of dru…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)