A MEDICATED GEL can help treat a skin problem that is a common side effect of colorectal cancer treatment, according to a study presented April 27 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025 in Chicago. (The AACR publishes Cancer Today.)

Research estimates 60% to 80% of colorectal tumors overexpress the EGFR protein, which promotes cell growth. An overabundance of this protein can cause cancer to spread and can increase the risk for recurrence and death. While targeted therapies that block the EGFR protein, such as Erbitux (cetuximab) or Vectibix (panitumumab), can stop tumor growth, they can also have unpleasant side effects.

As many as 75% of people who take EGFR-targeted therapies experience acneiform rash, a condition where red, acne-like bumps form on the skin. This rash can be itchy and painful and even cause bleeding or infections, according to Anisha B. Patel, the study’s lead author and a dermatologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The side effects force some patients to stop taking the treatment or switch to a lower dose.

“My practice at MD Anderson focuses on supporting our patients through skin-related adverse events from their cancer therapies,” Patel told Cancer Today via email. “Safe and efficacious management of acneiform eruption is one of our greatest unmet needs.”

In a phase II clinical trial, researchers investigated if an experimental gel could help treat this rash and improve quality of life for people with colorectal cancer. The trial tested LUT014, a topically applied gel that contains a BRAF inhibitor, which can counteract an EGFR-targeted therapy’s effect on the skin.

In the trial, 118 people with colorectal cancer who had developed moderate or severe acneiform rash after receiving an EGFR-targeted therapy were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo gel, a 0.03% LUT014 gel or a more concentrated 0.1% LUT014 gel. For 28 days, all participants applied their assigned gel to the rash.

At the start of the trial, participants completed a questionnaire that assessed how their skin condition impacted their quality of life. The questionnaire asked how the rash affected their sleep, mood, social life and body image. Participants filled out the survey weekly as they applied the gel and once more at the end of the follow-up period, according to Patel.

At the trial’s conclusion, 69% of people who received the stronger LUT014 gel reported treatment success, compared with 33% of people who received the placebo. Treatment success was defined as decreased rash severity or improved skin-specific quality of life. Additionally, 47.5% of those who received the less concentrated LUT014 gel reported treatment success, although this was not a statistically significant improvement over the placebo. Participants who used LUT014 reported decreases in skin dryness, itch, pain and redness, according to Patel.

Around 70% of people who used LUT014 experienced side effects from the gel, nearly all of which were considered mild. Common side effects included a burning sensation, itchiness, redness and stinging. Researchers said these are typically seen when applying a topical agent to a rash, but the mild symptoms were an improvement over the moderate or severe effects of the acneiform rash. Participants who received the placebo gel reported similar side effects.

The trial did not assess whether using the LUT014 gel helped patients to continue taking the EGFR-targeted therapy. However, researchers said they hope that by reducing the acneiform rash’s impact, people will be more willing to stick with the treatment and, in turn, see improved outcomes.

“This is a safe, efficacious option with rapid onset that does not affect the patient’s immune system,” Patel said. “I think this drug will be widely used if/when it becomes available.”

Researchers are designing a phase III clinical trial of the LUT014 gel, Patel said.

Thomas Celona is an editor at Cancer Today.