Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition for Keratinopathies

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling plays a key role in regulating epidermal cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. Keratins form a scaffold with epidermal desmosomes that involves ErbB/ EGFR signaling and keratin deficiency makes keratinocytes more sensitive to EGFR activation. Erlotinib, an EGFR inhibitor, was approved 20 years ago for cancer treatment and is generally used at 150 mg daily in adults >50 kg. While gastrointestinal and cutaneous side effects commonly occur at doses of 150 mg, adverse events occur less often at lower doses. We first reported erlotinib as effective for Olmsted syndrome, a rare hereditary EDD with painful PPK that results from variants in TRPV3. Erlotinib is now the treatment of choice for children and adults with Olmsted syndrome. Erlotinib is thought to inhibit formation of a complex that includes TRPV3, EGFR, and its primary skin-based ligand, TGF-a, which in turn regulates keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. High-throughput screening to identify compounds that stabilize keratin filaments have also pointed to the EGFR pathway for targeting. Reviews and recent case reports have suggested the benefit of erlotinib for PC,

Given these preliminary data, we hypothesize that EGFR activation is a characteristic feature of keratinopathies. Further, we expect that oral low-dose erlotinib will improve the scaling and skin thickening of the spectrum of keratinopathies and be tolerated by most patients. For those who experience pain, particularly from plantar involvement, we predict that erlotinib therapy will improve mobility and pain. Finally, we aim to find the mechanism by which erlotinib improves the phenotypes of the various keratinopathies to better understand these disorders and predict response. We will look specifically at the impact on differentiation vs. hyperproliferation and barrier function, as well as the immune modulatory effects of the erlotinib using a multi-omics approach.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Pachyonychia Congenita; Epidermolytic Ichthyosis; Palmoplantar Keratoderma
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Erlotinib

Detailed Description

We will conduct the first interventional multi-site Phase 1/2a trial of low-dose erlotinib to test its safety and efficacy as systemic treatment of moderate-to-severe keratinopathies.

The trial will have three parts:

During Part A, the natural history of keratinopathies and baseline for scores will be determined through at least 8 weeks of observation. We will use the mean of scores for our baseline, rather than a static measure at baseline to account for potential variability without the intervention.

Part B will be the dose escalation component, in which the subject will initiate 50 mg erlotinib,8 wks later escalate to 75 mg, and then 8 wks later to 100 mg erlotinib pending tolerance after each 8-week period. During this 24-week period, we will be assessing safety (Phase 1) in comparison to the 8-week baseline observation period (own control) and at ease dosing level. We will also evaluate efficacy based on dosing (Phase 2a) to achieve preliminary data to guide future trials if the use of erlotinib is a "go" based on safety.

Part C is the open-label extension period. Each participant will decide on the continued dosing for the subsequent 6 months in shared decision making with the investigator based on tolerance and effect. In total, the study involves 1 year on the erlotinib treatment, although the primary endpoint is 6 months after initiation. The additional 6 months will allow for further observation for potential toxicity and possible improved effect after additional time on drug. Participants will be eligible to participate in the open-label treatment period only if they have maintained >70% compliance with completion of studies during the initial 6 months.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 44
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Stephanie Rangel; Phone Number: 312-503-5942; Email: NUderm-research@northwestern.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
      • Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

The participant must be at least 18 years of age.

The participant must have a clinically and genetically confirmed diagnosis of a keratinopathy (Epidermolytic ichthyosis/EI: KRT 1, 2, or 10 pathogenic variant; Epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma/PPK: KRT 9; Pachyonychia congenita/PC form of PPK: KRT 6a, 6b, 6c, 16, 17). A blood or saliva sample will be collected for genetic confirmation if the underlying genetic change has not been confirmed by a CLIA-approved laboratory.

The participant must have an investigator scored IGA at screening and baseline of at least 2 (moderate) at affected sites.

The participant must abstain from use of any investigational drug or biologic within 4 weeks or 5 half-lives if longer, oral retinoid or oral steroid for at least 4 weeks, and topical medications (prescription or over-the-counter) in the week before the 8-week observation period. Otherwise stable medications (at least a month before the observation period and continued) will be allowed.

The participant agrees to use standard of care with respect to bathing and exfoliation/foot care, except in the week before the visits. Moisturizers/ emollients are allowed throughout the treatment period, but use must be consistent and withheld to the designated area of sampling on the arms (EI) or plantar foot (PC/PPK) for 48 hours prior to visits when skin samples are taken.

The participant is willing to have blood collected for safety and biopsies for investigation of mechanism.

Participant is in good general health and free of any known disease state or physical condition which, in the investigator's opinion, might impair the evaluation of the EI or PC/PPK.

Participant is able and willing to follow all study instructions

Exclusion Criteria:

The participant has EI or PC/PPK lesions on the assessment area that are infected or require therapy to treat the infection within 7 days of enrollment.

The participant has had major surgery during the past 4 weeks.

Participants have received an investigational drug or biologic within 4 weeks or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, prior to starting treatment with and during treatment with erlotinib.

Participants must be off oral retinoid or oral steroid for at least 4 weeks before drug initiation.

Participants who require medications and OTC supplements that inhibit/ induce CYP3A4 activity to control concurrent medical conditions.

Participants with known hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in the study medication formulation.

Participants previously treated for invasive cancer within the past 5 years unless the Investigator concludes history of cancer is not confounding to safety.

Participants who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant during the study or within a month after the study ends.

Participants of childbearing potential who are unwilling or unable to comply with contraception measures.

The participant has any condition or situation which, in the Investigator's opinion, may put the subject at significant risk, could confound the study results, or could interfere significantly with the subject's participation in the study.

Participants deemed by the investigator as unwilling or unable to remain compliant with all tests and procedures, adherence to the study drug administration regimen and other protocol-required activities.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Erlotinib Treatment Arm	Drug: Erlotinib; Part B will be the dose escalation component, in which the subject will initiate 50 mg erlotinib,8 weeks later escalate to 75 mg, and then 8 weeks later to 100 mg erlotinib pending tolerance after each 8-week period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Reduction in Investigator Global Assessment (IGA)	Reduction in IGA score from baseline to week 24 of at least 50%. The Investigator Global Assessment/IGA will be the primary efficacy analysis, using the strata of clear 0, mild 1, moderate 2, severe 3, and very severe 4.	24 weeks
Percentage of Grade 3 and 4 Adverse Events	The percentage of participants with Grade 3 and 4 events, based on the current Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) listing	24 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northwestern University
• Collaborators: Yale University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Amy Paller, Northwestern University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2031
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2031

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 6, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 6, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): August 9, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 3, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 30, 2026
• Last Verified: October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Skin Diseases; Congenital Abnormalities; Abnormalities, Multiple; Skin Diseases, Genetic; Ectodermal Dysplasia; Skin Abnormalities; Nail Diseases; Keratosis; Ichthyosiform Erythroderma, Congenital; Ichthyosis; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Pachyonychia Congenita; Keratoderma, Palmoplantar; Hyperkeratosis, Epidermolytic; Heterocyclic Compounds; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Quinazolines; Erlotinib Hydrochloride
• Other Study ID Numbers: AP08062024

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No