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

Abstract

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a microtubule-stabilizing antineoplasticthat has been shown to damage healthy tissues like the skin. Hyperpigmen-tation can be found among the adverse effects caused by PTX, but the liter-ature is limited and the mechanisms driving PTX-induced pigmentaryalterations are unknown. This study aimed to describe the pigmentary alterations causedby PTX and to determine the effects of PTX on melanocytes. The results suggest that PTX alters pigmentation in patientswith no clinically visible manifestations, and these alterations might bedriven by its capacity to stimulate melanogenesis on melanocytes throughthe MITF activation pathway.