Grade III Dermatitis in a Patient Treated With Paclitaxel and Radiotherapy: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Taxanes, both paclitaxel and doxetaxel are the medication of the future in the management of solid tumors. In high risk breast cancer patients, the combination of concurrent paclitaxel and docetaxel chemotherapy with adjuvant radiotherapy is an attractive option to sequential treatment, with potential for enforcing both local and systemic control. This case report examines the tolerance of such treatment. A 54-year-old Greek woman without a relevant medical history, presented with clinical diagnosed breast cancer staged T4NxM0. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy was initially administered, and paclitaxel was administered concurrently with radiotherapy in order to achieve local control. During the third cycle of paclitaxel the patient developed grade III dermatitis. The tumor showed a reduction in size by 70%, however, chronic cutaneous and subcutaneous changes have not been accessed. In conclusion, adjuvant breast cancer therapy with concurrent standard dose radiotherapy and paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) every three weeks, should be approached cautiously owing to paclitaxel induced dermatitis.