Summary
COCOON study shows simple preventive skin care regimen reduces severe skin reactions by 50% in lung cancer patients receiving amivantamab-lazertinib treatment.
A breakthrough study called COCOON has found a simple way to help lung cancer patients avoid painful skin problems caused by their treatment. The research, presented at the European Lung Cancer Congress 2025, shows that a basic skin care routine can cut severe skin reactions in half.
The study focused on patients with a specific type of lung cancer called EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer. These patients receive a combination treatment of two drugs: amivantamab and lazertinib. While this treatment helps patients live longer, it often causes uncomfortable skin and nail problems that can force patients to stop their cancer treatment.
Researchers tested 138 newly diagnosed patients by dividing them into two groups. One group received standard skin care, while the other followed the COCOON regimen – a simple routine using readily available products. The COCOON regimen included taking an antibiotic pill twice daily, applying antibiotic cream to the scalp, using antiseptic wash on hands and feet during regular washing, and applying moisturizer once daily.
The results were impressive. After 12 weeks, only 39% of patients using the COCOON regimen developed moderate to severe skin reactions, compared to 77% of patients receiving standard care. The preventive routine also reduced scalp problems by more than three times and cut the most severe skin reactions by half.
Most importantly, fewer patients had to stop their cancer treatment due to side effects when using the COCOON regimen – only 11% compared to 19% with standard care. Nearly two out of three patients using the preventive routine had no moderate to severe skin problems at all.
This simple, affordable approach could help more lung cancer patients stay on their life-extending treatment longer, potentially improving survival outcomes while maintaining quality of life.
