Cutaneous fibrosis induced by docetaxel: a case report.

Abstract

Docetaxel is a taxoid antineoplastic agent approved for use in the treatment of metastatic breast carcinoma. The current study reports an unusual case of generalized cutaneous fibrosis in a 39-year-old white female after treatment with 18 cycles of docetaxel for metastatic breast carcinoma. Cutaneous fibrosis represents a rare and unique reaction associated with the cyclic use of docetaxel. The reaction is manifested by a distinct sequence of events involving pronounced edema followed by the rapid development of cutaneous fibrosis in dependent areas. Cessation of therapy results in dramatic reversal of the fibrotic process. This case report further substantiates the belief that docetaxel represents one of a very limited number of agents that appear capable of giving rise to scleroderma-like features.