Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Montero, Paula
• Sanz, Celia
• Pérez‐Fidalgo, Jose Alejandro
• Pérez‐Leal, Martín
• Milara, Javier
• Cortijo, Julio

Titel

Paclitaxel alters melanogenesis and causes pigmentation in the skin of gynecological cancer patients

Ist Teil von

• Fundamental & clinical pharmacology, 2024-02, Vol.38 (1), p.183-191

Ort / Verlag

England: Wiley Subscription Services, Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2024

Quelle

Wiley Online Library - AutoHoldings Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Background Paclitaxel (PTX) is a microtubule‐stabilizing antineoplastic that has been shown to damage healthy tissues like the skin. Hyperpigmentation can be found among the adverse effects caused by PTX, but the literature is limited and the mechanisms driving PTX‐induced pigmentary alterations are unknown. Objectives This study aimed to describe the pigmentary alterations caused by PTX and to determine the effects of PTX on melanocytes. Methods Pigmentary skin alterations were measured in 20 gynecological cancer patients under PTX treatment by using specific probes, which determine the melanin index and the pigmentation level. Melanocytes were incubated with paclitaxel to analyze melanogenesis markers gene expression, melanin content, and transcription factors activation. Results Paclitaxel induced alterations in the skin pigmentation with no visible clinical manifestations. Gynecological cancer patients under paclitaxel treatment had an increase in the melanin index and pigmentation levels. In vitro, PTX exposure to melanocytes increased the expression of melanogenesis markers, melanin content, and induced activation of ERK and MITF. Conclusions The results suggest that PTX alters pigmentation in patients with no clinically visible manifestations, and these alterations might be driven by its capacity to stimulate melanogenesis on melanocytes through the MITF activation pathway.