title: Gefitinib-induced hepatotoxicity in patients treated for non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are widely used in the management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), gefitinib-induced hepatotoxicity has been underappreciated and rarely reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 92 NSCLC patients, who were admitted to our cancer center in the past 5 years, were reviewed retrospectively. All patients received treatment with gefitinib (250 mg/day), during which liver function was monitored. Of the 92 NSCLC patients, 6 (6.5%) developed mild to moderate hepatotoxicity during gefitinib treatment. The time of onset of hepatotoxicity ranged from 7 days to 6 months after gefitinib administration. 1 patient (1.1%) suffered from grade 2 hepatotoxicity, and gradually recovered her normal liver function after reduction of the gefitinib dose. The other 5 patients with grade 1 hepatic impairment tolerated gefitinib well without requiring dose reductions or drug cessation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gefitinib-induced hepatotoxicity is not uncommon. Although the extent of this toxicity is generally mild in nature and most patients tolerate gefitinib well, meticulous monitoring is mandatory to avoid severe hepatic impairment.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Runxia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Meera
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dassarath
authors.forename: Zhongyuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Kunyu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077156:Gefitinib