Appearance of 4 Degree Rash While Treating Advanced Lung Cancer with Icotinib – Whether to Stop the Drug: A Case Report

Skin and skin adnexa toxicities are the most common side effects associated with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Previous research showed that the rash appeared, and the severity of EGFR-TKIs may be a marker of clinical benefit. In this context, we report a 75-year-old man with advanced lung cancer who on receiving icotinib developed severe adverse reactions, 4 degree rash (NCI-CTC AE version 4.0 common toxicity grading standards grade), and refused to stop taking the drug; but with the anti-infection and symptomatic nursing, the patient recovered, the rash disappeared, and the patient received a better prognosis. Thus, we would like to emphasize the importance of deciding whether to stop the drug when patients developed adverse reactions of 3-4 degree rash.