Capecitabine and adermatoglyphia: trouble in border!

Capecitabine, an oral prodrug of 5-fluorouracil, is approved in stage III colon cancer (1) and metastatic colorectal and breast cancer (2) (3). Palmo-plantar erythrodysesthesia, also known as Hand Foot syndrome (HFS), is its most limiting toxicity. Although it is not life threatening, it can compromise efficacy because of dose reduction. It has been reported in pivotal trials in 53% of patients receiving capecitabine, requiring dose reduction in 17% of patients (2). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.