Radiation pneumonitis in patients with non--small-cell lung cancer treated with erlotinib concurrent with thoracic radiotherapy.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of radiation pneumonitis in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with concurrent thoracic radiotherapy and erlotinib.


METHODS
Patients with inoperable stages IIIA to IV non-small-cell lung cancer who were treated with concurrent thoracic radiotherapy and erlotinib were analyzed. The incidence of radiation pneumonitis was evaluated using the Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) 3.0 Grading System. The development of grade 2 or higher radiation pneumonitis was the study end point.


RESULTS
Among the 24 patients analyzed, there were nine developed radiation pneumonitis of grade 2 or higher (37.5%), including four cases of grade 2 radiation pneumonitis (16.7%), two of grade 3 radiation pneumonitis (8.3%), and three of grade 5 radiation pneumonitis (12.5%). Three patients developed fatal pneumonia and died of bilateral lung radiation pneumonitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiation pneumonitis should be considered in patients treated with concurrent thoracic radiotherapy and erlotinib.
*Department of Radiotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, and Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin, P. R. China; and †Department of Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Hongqing
H
Zhuang
Zhiyong
Z
Yuan
Joe Y
JY
Chang
Jun
J
Wang
Qingsong
Q
Pang
Lujun
L
Zhao
Ping
P
Wang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017564:Radiation Pneumonitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride