Stevens-johnson syndrome induced by vandetanib

Abstract

Vandetanib is a once-daily oral anticancer drug that selectively inhibits key signaling pathways in cancer by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, epidermal growth factor receptors tyrosine kinase, and rearranged during transfection-dependent tumor cell proliferation and survival. The most frequently reported adverse events attributed to vandetanib include diarrhea, elevated aminotransferase, asymptomatic corrected QT interval prolongation, and hypertension. Though a number of randomized, doubleblind studies, including cutaneous adverse events attributed to vandetanib, have been reported along with these general symptoms, no case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) has been reported. This paper demonstrates a case of SJS induced by vandetanib.

Keywords: Non-small-cell lung carcinoma; Stevens-Johnson syndrome; Vandetanib.

Fig. 1

The patient exhibited multiple purpuric coalescing macules and vesicles on face and neck.

Fig. 2

Multiple purpuric targetoid macules on the both palms were observed.

Fig. 3

Histopathologic findings of biopsy on his right forearm showed diffuse epidermal necrosis including necrotic keratinocytes and severe perivacular infiltration of lymphocytes (H&E, ×100).