Severe lung and skin toxicity during treatment with gemcitabine and erlotinib for metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Gemcitabine in combination with the oral epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib is a new treatment option for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The nonhematological side effects of this regimen mainly include diarrhea and skin rash. For each of these drugs, gemcitabine and erlotinib, lung toxicities have been described previously. In this report, we present the first case of a nonlung cancer patient experiencing not only acne-like skin toxicity, but subsequently also severe interstitial lung disease during therapy with gemcitabine and erlotinib. Both therapeutic agents were suspected as a possible cause of this adverse event. An interaction between gemcitabine and erlotinib might have also contributed to the pathogenesis of this pulmonary toxicity. Treatment with high-dose steroids was, however, very effective in our patient and a complete recovery appeared within a few days. Thus, pulmonary side effects should be regarded carefully in pancreatic cancer patients receiving palliative therapy with gemcitabine and erlotinib.
Boeck
Stefan
S
Department of Internal Medicine III, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany. stefan.boeck@med.uni-muenchen.de
Hausmann
Andreas
A
Reibke
Roland
R
Schulz
Christoph
C
Heinemann
Volker
V
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011859:Radiography; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011799:Quinazolines; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D011239:Prednisolone; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D000093542:Gemcitabine