Interstitial lung disease associated with gefitinib

Respir Med. 2006 Apr;100(4):698-704. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2005.07.015. Epub 2005 Aug 30.

Abstract

Although pulmonary toxicity associated with gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, has been reported recently, the accumulation of clinical information and the underlying mechanisms of gefitinib-induced interstitial lung disease (ILD) remain insufficient and unclear. After retrospectively reviewing the clinical records and chest X-rays of 489 lung cancer patients who were treated with gefitinib, we diagnosed four cases of gefitinib-induced ILD who underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). We found that the period of time from starting gefitinib to the onset of ILD was short, and concluded that a careful and close observation of a chest imaging study and a collection of respiratory symptoms was recommended. All four patients were treated with a high dose of corticosteroids, and ILD was resolved. We detected high levels of interferon-inducible protein-10 in BAL fluid, although we could not demonstrate the characteristic features of laboratory findings or BAL fluid cell analysis. We speculated that a Th1 type of lung tissue inflammation or lung injury might be involved as a part of mechanisms underlying gefitinib-induced ILD.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / microbiology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Chemokines, CC / analysis
  • Chemokines, CXC / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gefitinib
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / chemically induced*
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Quinazolines / adverse effects*
  • Quinazolines / therapeutic use
  • Radiography
  • Respiratory Function Tests
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Chemokines, CC
  • Chemokines, CXC
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Quinazolines
  • Gefitinib
  • Methylprednisolone