Nail alterations as a surrogate marker for the efficacy of low-dose metronomic chemotherapy

Abstract

Docetaxel is a well-known causative agent of nail alterations. The aim of this study was to reveal the impact of nail alterations associated with low-dose metronomic (LDM) docetaxel chemotherapy on the survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Clinical information, survival data and nail alterations in patients treated with LDM docetaxel chemotherapy (docetaxel 15 mg/m2 per week) were retrospectively reviewed. Forty-nine patients were included in this study. Various nail alterations were observed in 17 of the 49 patients (34.7%). Onycholysis and subungual hyperkeratosis were observed in 22.4% and 10.2% of patients, respectively. The number of docetaxel administration cycles was correlated with the incidence and severity of nail alterations. Univariate and multivariate analysis clearly demonstrated that the occurrence of nail alterations was an independent favorable prognostic factor for overall survival. Nail alterations associated with treatment may act as a surrogate marker for the efficacy of low-dose metronomic docetaxel chemotherapy.

Investigation of a correlation between taxane‐based chemotherapy and the ultrasonic time‐of‐flight of human fingernails

“…This suggests that changes in TOF are solely caused by structural transformations in the composition of the fingernail rooting from the fingernail bed. It was observed that the weekly dosed patients, as opposed to the biweekly dosed patients, had more cases of onycholysis and discoloration, as well as larger scaling values for numbness which correlates with the results performed by Kibata et al …”

“…[4][5][6] Kibata et al demonstrated that the incidence and severity of fingernail changes were related to the number of docetaxel chemotherapy administrations. 7 Highfrequency ultrasound has been reported to be an effective tool for quantitative evaluation of fingernail condition and microstructure. [8][9][10][11][12] The aim of the present study was to examine whether chemotherapeutic treatment progression can be correlated quantitatively with the alterations in fingernail ultrasonic properties, by measuring the changes in the time-of-flight (TOF) parameter during the course of chemotherapy regimens.…”

“…Kibata et al. demonstrated that the incidence and severity of fingernail changes were related to the number of docetaxel chemotherapy administrations . High‐frequency ultrasound has been reported to be an effective tool for quantitative evaluation of fingernail condition and microstructure .…”