Rash with different types of BCR-ABL inhibitors in chronic myelogenous leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective

A meta-analysis was conducted to systematically review the risks of all-grade as well as high-grade rash in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients using different types of BCR-ABL inhibitors.

Methods

Literature published between 2000 and April 2022 were searched using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and ClinicalTrials.gov.

Results

A total of 12 studies were included for meta-analysis. The results showed that the incidence of all-grade or high-grade rash associated with new-generation BCR-ABL inhibitors had no significant difference compared with a standard dose of imatinib. Subgroup analysis suggested that, compared with imatinib, the incidence of all grades of rash was higher in the nilotinib, bosutinib and ponatinib groups.

Conclusion

For CML patients treated with nilotinib, bosutinib and ponatinib, the occurrence of skin toxicity should not be ignored.