Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome associated with liposomal daunorubicin

Abstract

Daunorubicin and doxorubicin are anthracyclines that have efficacy against malignancies such as breast cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, and leukemia. Their adverse effects are similar. The most serious is cardiotoxicity, which often limits the total cumulative dose that can be administered. Introduction of a liposomal formulation for both agents allows tumor selectivity by accumulating the drug in tumor tissue, thus increasing the tolerated dose. Liposomal doxorubicin is commonly associated with palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (PPES), although no reports of PPES were found in the literature related to liposomal daunorubicin (L-DNR). Two patients developed PPES while receiving high-dose L-DNR. The symptoms were self-limiting and resolved within a few weeks.