title: Interstitial pneumonia during gefitinib treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: Gefitinib, an orally active, selective inhibitor of epidermal growth factor-receptor tyrosine kinase, is an effective treatment for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Most drug-related adverse events are mild to moderate; however, some patients may develop acute interstitial pneumonia that is sometimes fatal. In a prospective study of gefitinib in 76 patients with advanced NSCLC, 69 patients were evaluable for toxicity, and 4 cases (5.8%) of gefitinib-related interstitial pneumonia were diagnosed: 1 occurred in the second week; 2 in the second month; and 1 during the fourth month of treatment. When interstitial pneumonia occurred, the patients had stable disease (n = 2), a partial response (n = 1), or progressive disease (n = 1). All 4 patients recovered when gefitinib treatment was stopped and glucocorticosteroid therapy was started; no deaths related to gefitinib therapy were noted in this series. While treating NSCLC patients with gefitinib, it is important to carefully evaluate any new-onset respiratory symptoms and promptly arrange radiographic examinations, and to stop gefitinib treatment and begin glucocorticosteroid therapy whenever pulmonary toxicity is highly suspected.
authors.affiliation: Chest Department, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yu-Ning
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Chao-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Chun-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Reury-Perng
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Perng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077156:Gefitinib; D008775:Methylprednisolone