Nahumi T.a,b · Levy I.b,c,d · Schiff E.b,d,e · Attias S.b · Amromin T.a · Agbarya A.a,d

aOncology Unit, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
bComplementary and Integrative Medicine Service, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
cHematology Unit, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
dRappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion – Israel’s Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
eInternal Medicine B Department, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel

Keywords: Acupuncture Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors Colorectal adenocarcinoma Skin toxicity Case report

Complement Med Res 2023;30:78–83
https://doi.org/10.1159/000527853

Abstract

Background: Inflammatory skin rash resulting from treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors may cause physical and mental disabling to patients treated for their oncologic condition and may, in some cases, lead to the cessation of biological treatment. Case Report: In this case report, acupuncture treatment was provided to a patient with metastatic colorectal carcinoma who developed skin toxicity from panitumumab including rash, itching, and skin inflammation. Itching, infection, and inflammation symptoms improved significantly following acupuncture, subsequently relapsed following treatment cessation, and improved once again following reintroduction of acupuncture. Conclusion: Acupuncture may be effective in alleviating panitumumab-related skin inflammatory symptoms.

© 2023 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel