title: Erlotinib-associated interstitial lung disease in advanced pancreatic carcinoma: a case report and literature review.
abstract: The combination of erlotinib and gemcitabine is a recognized option for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer whose common adverse events such as skin rash, diarrhea, or fatigue are usually easily manageable. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a life-threatening toxicity reported in patients with non-small-cell lung cancers treated with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors or gemcitabine. This side effect is extremely rare in patients with pancreatic cancer. We report fatal treatment-related ILD that occurred in a 67-year-old patient with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Risk factors and pathophysiology of ILD need further investigation but caution is highly recommended for patients with an underlying pulmonary disease when using erlotinib in monotherapy or combination therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Udine, Udine - Italy.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macerelli
authors.forename: Micol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzer
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Foltran
authors.forename: Giovanni Gerardo
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Cardellino
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aprile
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001344:Autopsy; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases