A review of imatinib induced pigmentary changes in the skin and mucous membranes

Abstract EN

Imatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has a wide range of applications in the treatment of cancer, including: Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and others.

Imatinib is also effective when utilized to treat various dermatological conditions, for example, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, HIV related Kaposi’s sarcoma and hypereosinophilic syndrome.

Imatinib targets the BCR-ABL protein, the c-kit (KIT), the platelet-derived growth factor and the serine/ threonine kinases involved in tumor signaling, angiogenesis and apoptosis.

The BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase enzyme exists only in cancer cells.

Imatinib exhibits the enzyme’s killing effect only against cancer and it is the first of its kind to possess a targeted therapy against noeplasms.

Besides systemic side-effects, imatinib can cause dermatological complications, including hypopigmentation of the skin in a significant number of patients.

Paradoxically, it has also been shown to induce hyperpigmentation in occasional cases.

Cutaneous pigmentary changes are reported to be benign and dose related; however, they are important for cosmetic and psychological effects.

In this article, the various case reports and studies pertaining to color changes in the skin and mucous membranes in patients receiving imatinib for the treatment of cancers are reviewed and appraised.

The possible mechanisms of melanin derangements and clinical outcomes are also described.