Medical researchers identify rare scalp toxicity in lung cancer patient following amivantamab treatment and radiotherapy

Doctors identify a rare scalp reaction in a lung cancer patient. Learn how amivantamab and radiotherapy interact to cause unique skin toxicities.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 17, 2026, 6:55 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

The Emergence of Unrecognized Skin Toxicities in Targeted Oncology

Researchers from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School have documented a rare dermatological event in a patient undergoing treatment for lung cancer. The case, published in the journal Oncoscience, describes a patient with EGFR-mutant non, small cell lung cancer who developed painful, crusted plaques on the scalp. According to the report led by Vasiliki Nikolaou and Ioannis-Alexios Koumprentziotis, these erosive lesions appeared specifically in areas previously treated with cranial radiotherapy. This discovery marks a previously unrecognized adverse event associated with the increasingly common use of amivantamab in frontline cancer regimens.

The Geographic and Clinical Context of the Case Study

The clinical observation took place in Athens, Greece, where medical professionals monitored the patient's reaction to the bispecific monoclonal antibody. Amivantamab is designed to target both the epidermal growth factor receptor and the mesenchymal, epithelial transition factor, which has proven effective for specific lung cancer mutations. According to the authors, the patient began showing signs of erosive pustular dermatosis, like ulcerations, which were strictly confined to the irradiated scalp region. This specific localization highlights the importance of monitoring patients who receive a combination of modern targeted therapies and traditional radiation treatments.

Identifying the Mechanism of Impaired Tissue Repair

The research team suggests that the dual inhibition of the EGFR and MET signaling pathways may be the primary driver of this rare reaction. These pathways are critical for the normal function of keratinocytes and the body's ability to repair damaged tissue. According to the study, the combination of radiation, induced inflammation and the drug's impact on wound healing creates a vulnerability in the scalp. This disruption of the natural repair process appears to predispose certain patients to developing painful ulcerative lesions that differ from the more common side effects like acneiform eruptions.