Hemorrhage of brain metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer post gefitinib therapy: two case reports and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Gefitinib is one of the small molecule inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR TKIs). Clinical trials have demonstrated it is effective for treatment of a subset of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gefitinib has been generally considered to be a relatively safe agent. Besides a small proportion of fatal interstitial pneumonia, the common adverse drug reactions of gefitinib include diarrhea and skin rash, which are generally mild and reversible. Herein, we report the first two cases of brain metastasis hemorrhage that might be involved with the use of gefitinib.


METHODS
Two patients with brain metastasis from NSCLC developed brain hemorrhage after gefitinib therapy. The hemorrhage in one case occurred one month after gefitinib combined with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), and in the another case hemorrhage developed slowly within brain metastases eight months post gefitinib monotherapy for diffuse pulmonary metastasis from a lung cancer undergone surgical removal previously.


CONCLUSIONS
We speculate brain hemorrhage could be one of the adverse drug reactions of gefitinib treatment for NSCLC and suggest clinicians be aware of this possible rare entity. More data are needed to confirm our findings, especially when gefitinib is used in the settings of brain metastases from NSCLC or other origins.
Yan
Dan-Fang
DF
Department of Radiation Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, PR China.
Yan
Sen-Xiang
SX
Yang
Jing-Song
JS
Wang
Yi-Xiang J
YX
Sun
Xiao-Li
XL
Liao
Xin-Biao
XB
Liu
Jun-Qing
JQ
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077156:Gefitinib