title: Malignant pleural effusion from lung adenocarcinoma treated by gefitinib.
abstract: Small molecule inhibitors targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are known to be active against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) although the pharmacodynamics of these agents on malignant pleural effusion (MPE) remains unclear. Here we describe a case of lung adenocarcinoma with massive MPE treated successfully by gefitinib and chest drainage. Using sequential MPE samples before and during gefitinib therapy, the morphological changes and apoptosis of cancer cells were analyzed. Apoptosis of cancer cells was detected as early as 4 hours on, but not before, gefitinib therapy, suggesting that the pharmacodynamic assessment of such molecular targeting agents might be feasible for MPE.
authors.affiliation: National Hospital Organization Kinki-Chuo Chest Medical Center, Japan. kuboa@aichi-med-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Akihito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Shun-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isa
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kusunoki
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitaichi
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D004322:Drainage; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077156:Gefitinib