[A case of a corneal disorder after lung cancer treatment with erlotinib].
BACKGROUND
We report a case of a severe corneal disorder after lung cancer treatment with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, erlotinib hydrochloride (Tarceva).


METHODS
A 59-year-old man, who was referred to our cornea service, presented with blurred vision and pain OD. Visual acuity was 6/20. Slit-lamp examination showed a severe corneal epithelial defect and ocular inflammation OD. Eighteen months previously, he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and had been undergoing treatment with erlotinib for 6 months. He had no history of ocular surgery, trauma or diabetes. After topical antibiotic therapy was started and the erlotinib treatment was discontinued for 1 week, the corneal findings resolved completely. The visual acuity recovered to 20/20 after 8 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
An EGFR inhibitor used to treat lung cancer can cause severe corneal disorders including severe corneal defects and ocular inflammation. Clinicians should consider the possibility of erlotinib in cases of corneal disorders of uncertain etiology.
Department of Ophthalmology, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Chiba-ken, Japan. yuichi.hori@sakura.med.toho-u.ac.jp
Yuichi
Y
Hori
Ryuya
R
Hashimoto
Makoto
M
Ubuka
Yuzo
Y
Deguchi
Junya
J
Ashizawa
Koichiro
K
Hitani
Tomoaki
T
Shiba
Takatoshi
T
Maeno
D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects*
D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors