MarioLacoutureMD

Summary

• I am a board-certified dermatologist with special interest in dermatologic conditions that result from cancer treatments. My clinical career has been focused on the recognition and management of side effects affecting the skin, hair, and nails of cancer patients and survivors. These effects can occur as a consequence of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or therapeutic transplants.
  
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  To ensure that dermatologic side effects do not affect quality of life and the consistent administration of anticancer therapies, I founded the SERIES (Skin and Eye Reactions to Inhibitors of EGFR and kinases) Clinic, an interdisciplinary effort comprising patient care, education, and research. This clinical program is unique in that it provides pre-treatment counseling and preventive efforts in order to minimize the development of side effects, as well as rapid attention to those patients who develop them. Close communication with treating oncologists ensures that interventions against side effects do not affect the effectiveness of cancer treatments. In summary, the ultimate goal is to ensure the best dermatology-related quality of life and benefit from anticancer treatments.
  
  My research focuses on major components of dermatologic side effects: the accurate description and severity grading; the effects on quality of life; the identification of factors that place individuals at higher risk; and the development of treatments. A basic tenet of this research is in exploring new skin treatments that do not affect the effectiveness of anticancer drugs. For example, we use topical medicines in the face or regional cooling of hands or feet to prevent or treat drug-induced side effects in these areas. A new field being investigated is on dermatologic effects of cancer therapies in long-term cancer survivors, the first step towards ensuring long-term skin health after antineoplastic therapy.