Topical Sunscreen in Preventing Skin Rash in Patients Receiving Drugs Such as Erlotinib or Cetuximab for Cancer

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2009-10-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

RATIONALE: Topical sunscreen may be effective in preventing skin rash caused by treatment with drugs such as erlotinib or cetuximab. It is not yet known whether topical sunscreen is more effective than a placebo in preventing skin rash in patients receiving drugs such as erlotinib or cetuximab for cancer.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying topical sunscreen to see how well it works compared with a placebo in preventing skin rash in patients receiving drugs such as erlotinib or cetuximab for cancer.

• Phase: Phase 3
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
• Collaborator: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Treatments: Cetuximab; Erlotinib Hydrochloride; Sunscreening Agents

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of cancer

• Receiving ≥ 1 of the following epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor treatments:

• Gefitinib

• Cetuximab

• Erlotinib

• Panitumumab

• ICR-62

• Matuzumab

• CI-1033

• EGFR treatment must have begun within the past 3 days

• No rash (of any etiology) at study entry

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Able to apply sunscreen on face, trunk, and extremities

• Able to complete questionnaire(s)

• No history of allergic reactions or severe intolerance to sunscreen or its derivatives

• No history of skin problems likely to reoccur during treatment

• Must avoid heavy sun exposure, especially during the hours of noon to 4 pm daily

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics

• No concurrent tanning bed usage

• No other concurrent topical sunscreens