Regenecare® Wound Gel in Treating Rash in Patients Receiving Cetuximab or Other Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor Therapy for Cancer

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

- Determine the efficacy of Regenecare® wound gel in alleviating pain and itching in
patients who develop an acneiform rash while undergoing treatment with cetuximab or
other EGFR inhibitor therapy for cancer.

Secondary

- Determine the efficacy of this drug in reducing the severity of rash in these patients.

- Determine the efficacy of this drug in reducing the redness and appearance of the rash
in these patients.

- Determine the tolerability of this drug in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a prospective study.

- Observation: Patients undergo evaluation by full-face photography prior to development
of skin rash (baseline). While undergoing concurrent cancer therapy, patients
self-monitor for the appearance of an acneiform rash. Upon initial onset of rash,
patients proceed to treatment.

- Treatment: Patients apply topical Regenecare® wound gel to the face ≥ 4 times daily.
Treatment continues for 4 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.

Patients are evaluated weekly by facial examination, full-face photography, and patient
satisfaction questionnaires.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Diagnosis of cancer

- Starting treatment with cetuximab or other EGFR inhibitor (e.g., erlotinib
hydrochloride) on another clinical trial

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- No known history of hypersensitivity to amine-type local anesthetics or to other
components of MPM Regenecare® wound gel

- No other concurrent, serious skin disorders (i.e., scleroderma or psoriasis) that
would interfere with assessment of EGFR inhibitor-induced rash

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No other concurrent topical facial creams or lotions