Chemotherapy (platinum and pemetrexed) in combination with erlotinib in non-small cell lung cancer induces major gastrointestinal toxicity: two case reports from the FLARE/GFPC 03-2013 study.
OBJECTIVE
A randomized phase III study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of second-line platinum-based chemotherapy with or without erlotinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR-activating mutation after secondary resistance to EGFR-TKIs (epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors).


METHODS
We report herein two of the first three patients who presented with major gastrointestinal toxicities in the experimental arm of the trial.


CONCLUSIONS
Pending further data, it would seem safer to administer EGFR-TKIs and chemotherapy sequentially rather than concomitantly.
Department of Pharmacology, CHU de Caen, Caen, France.|Department of Clinical Research, Centre François Baclesse, Caen, France.
M
M
Sassier
Department of Clinical Research, Centre François Baclesse, Caen, France.|Department of Clinical Research, CHU de Caen, Caen, France.
L
L
Peyro-Saint-Paul
Department of Clinical Research, Centre François Baclesse, Caen, France.
B
B
Clarisse
Department of Clinical Research, Centre François Baclesse, Caen, France.
A
A
Leconte
Department of Pharmacology, CHU de Caen, Caen, France.
A
A
Coquerel
Department of Pharmacology, CHU de Caen, Caen, France.
J
J
Alexandre
Department of Pharmacology, CHU de Caen, Caen, France.
S
S
Fedrizzi
Department of Pneumology, Meulan-Les Mureaux Intercommunal Hospital, Meulan en Yvelines, France.
E
E
Leroy-Terquem
Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France.
A
A
Madroszyk
Department of Oncology, Centre François Baclesse, Caen, France.
R
R
Gervais
chemotherapy; erlotinib; gastrointestinal toxicity; non-small cell lung cancer