Jatoi, A., Dakhil, S.R., Sloan, J.A., Kugler, J.W., Rowland, K.M., Jr., Schaefer, P.L., . . . Loprinzi, C.L. (2011). Prophylactic tetracycline does not diminish the severity of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor-induced rash: Results from the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (Supplementary N03CB). Supportive Care in Cancer, 19, 1601–1607.
To attempt to confirm the benefit of the antibiotic tetracycline in decreasing the severity of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–inhibitor-induced rash.
Eligible patients who were starting an EGFR inhibitor and were rash free were randomly assigned to tetracycline 500 mg orally BID for 28 days, versus placebo. Rash development and severity, quality of life, and adverse events were monitored during the four-week intervention and for an additional four weeks. The primary objective was to compare the incidence of grade 2 or worse rash between the study arms.
Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.
This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study did not find that tetracycline decreased rash incidence or severity in patients who were taking EGFR inhibitors.
The sample size was small (fewer than 100 patients).
Quality of life was comparable and tetracycline was well tolerated, but the current results did not support what prior studies had suggested.