Gefitinib-related interstitial lung disease in Taiwanese patients with non-small-cell lung cancer

Clinical outcomes and radiation pneumonitis after concurrent EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors and radiotherapy for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Concurrent epidermal growth factor receptor‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR‐TKI) with radiotherapy in patients with EGFR‐mutant unresectable stage III non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) might improve survival. However, both treatments carry a potential risk of pneumonitis.

Methods

Between May 2012 and December 2017, patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC treated with concurrent radiotherapy and EGFR‐TKI were enrolled in this retrospective study. The baseline characteristics were evaluated to determine correlations with toxicity development.

Results

Among 45 eligible patients, 20 (44.4%) had an EGFR mutation and 44 (97.8%) received 50–66 Gy of radiotherapy. The median follow‐up was 62.7 months. The median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for patients with EGFR‐mutations were 27.9 (95% CI: 18.7–37.2) and 49.7 (95% CI: 27.7–71.8) months, and 13.8 (95% CI: 8.8–18.9) and 31.1 (95% CI: 9.8–52.4) months for EGFR wild‐type/unknown patients. A total of 17 patients (37.7%) developed radiation pneumonitis/pneumonitis (14 grade 2, 3 grade 3). In 16 patients, pneumonitis occurred within the radiation field and one patient had bilateral pneumonitis. The median time from the initial radiotherapy to pneumonitis was 74 days. Logistic regression analysis revealed a trend between the time of EGFR‐TKI and the development of G2+ pneumonitis. For late toxicity, only two patients had G2+ fibrosis. The daily dyspnea symptoms of patients with G2+ pneumonitis recovered significantly after the phase of pneumonitis (P = 0.007).

Conclusions

Combined EGFR‐TKI and radiotherapy showed favorable survival in EGFR‐mutant patients with inoperable stage III NSCLC, with a 6.7% incidence of grade 3 radiation pneumonitis/pneumonitis, despite a higher incidence of mild‐to‐moderate radiation pneumonitis.

Key points

Significant findings of the study

We evaluated the outcomes and radiation pneumonitis after EGFR‐TKI during interval radiotherapy. EGFR‐TKI plus radiotherapy increased survival in patients with EGFR‐mutant inoperable stage III NSCLC. The mild‐to‐moderate radiation pneumonitis incidence increased but no grade 4–‐5 adverse events occurred.

What this study adds

The combination of EGFR‐TKI and radiotherapy might carry a risk of pneumonitis; however, there are limited data concerning dose constraints. Our results showed a slightly higher incidence of mild or moderate radiation pneumonitis by strict dose limitation.

Ethnic differences in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: The Japanese perspective

Epidemiologic data suggest that there are ethnic differences between Japanese and other populations with regard to the important clinical aspects of interstitial lung disease (ILD), such as the cause of death and prognostic factors in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Acute exacerbation (AE) of IPF may be more common in Japan than in the rest of the world, although this suggestion remains controversial. Moreover, AE of ILD induced by gefitinib may also be more common in Japan, indicating that Japanese patients have a genetic vulnerability or susceptibility to AE. Recent large-scale studies are starting to reveal ethnic differences in the genetics of ILD, including the prevalence of the genetic polymorphisms associated with the clinical course of ILD. We anticipate that ongoing and upcoming research regarding ethnic differences will continue to provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis and management of ILD.

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Induced Interstitial Lung Disease: Clinical Features, Diagnostic Challenges, and Therapeutic Dilemmas

Since the approval of the first molecularly targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), imatinib, in 2001, TKIs have heralded a new era in the treatment of many cancers. Among their innumerable adverse effects, interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most serious, presenting most frequently with dyspnea, cough, fever, and hypoxemia, and often treated with steroids. Of the 28 currently approved TKIs, 16 (57 %) are reported to induce ILD with varying frequency and/or severity. The interval from drug administration to onset of ILD varies between patients and between TKIs, with no predictable time course. Its incidence is variously reported to be approximately 1.6-4.3 % in Japanese populations and 0.3-1.0 % in non-Japanese populations. The mortality rate is in the range of 20-50 %. Available evidence (primarily following the use of erlotinib and gefitinib in Japan because of the unique susceptibility of that population) has identified a number of susceptibility and prognostic risk factors (male sex, a history of smoking, and pre-existing pulmonary fibrosis being the main ones). Although the precise mechanism is not understood, collective evidence suggests that immune factors may be involved. If TKI-induced ILD is confirmed by thorough evaluation of the patient and exclusion of other causes, management is supportive, and includes discontinuation of the culprit TKI and administration of steroids. Discontinuing the culprit TKI presents a clinical dilemma because the diagnosis of TKI-induced ILD in a patient with pre-existing pulmonary fibrosis can be challenging, the patient may have TKI-responsive cancer with no suitable alternative, and switching to an alternative agent, even if available, carries the risk of the patient experiencing other toxic effects. Preliminary evidence suggests that therapy with the culprit TKI may be continued under steroid cover and/or at a reduced dose. However, this approach requires careful individualized risk-benefit analysis and further clinical experience.

Safety of gefitinib in non-small cell lung cancer treatment

INTRODUCTION

The development of EGFR TKI and the subsequent identification of activating EGFR mutations have dramatically changed how NSCLC is treated. With its recent approval by the US Food and Drug Administration, gefitinib adds to the list of recommended first-line treatments for lung cancer harboring EGFR mutations, which hitherto includes erlotinib and afatinib.

AREAS COVERED

This review summarizes the pharmacological property, clinical efficacy, and safety of gefitinib in major clinical trials and post-marketing studies.

EXPERT OPINION

Gefitinib is a well-tolerated treatment for advanced NSCLC. The most common adverse events are skin reaction and diarrhea, both of which are generally mild, noncumulative, and manageable. Other side effects such as interstitial lung disease and liver toxicity are less common but can be serious. Which EGFR TKI is the preferred first-line treatment is a matter of debate. Gefitinib and erlotinib have comparable efficacy, whereas afatinib may exert superior clinical activity over gefitinib. In terms of the most common toxicities of skin reaction and diarrhea, gefitinib may be the most tolerable of the three. Hence, despite being the earliest EGFR TKI developed, gefitinib continues to be one of the first-line treatments for advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC, especially when skin and gastrointestinal toxicity is a concern.

Role of gefitinib in the targeted treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer in Chinese patients

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Conventional treatment options have limited efficacy because most cases are in the advanced stage at the time of diagnosis. In recent years, gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has shown its good antitumor activities in treating NSCLC in a number of studies. This paper reviews its role in the targeted treatment of NSCLC in Chinese patients.

Erlotinib-associated interstitial lung disease in advanced pancreatic carcinoma: a case report and literature review

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.

Gefitinib-Induced Interstitial Lung Disease in Korean Lung Cancer Patients

Purpose

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a serious adverse effect of gefitinib. We examined the incidence and clinical characteristics of drug-induced ILD in Korean non-small cell lung carcinoma patients treated with gefitinib.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who started gefitinib treatment at Seoul National University Hospital from January 2002 through December 2011. Patients who developed new abnormal radiologic findings with respiratory symptoms after gefitinib treatment were defined as having possible adverse pulmonary reactions. The patients’ medical records were reviewed independently by investigators to identify the causes of pulmonary toxicities.

Results

Among the 1,114 patients evaluated, 128 patients (11.5%) developed pulmonary adverse reactions after taking gefitinib. An infectious complication occurred in 98 patients (8.8%) and 15 patients (1.3%) developed ILD. Nine of the 15 patients (60.0%) with gefitinib-induced ILD experienced a fatal clinical course that met either the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 4 (n=3) or grade 5 (n=6). In the multivariate analysis, a lower serum albumin level (≤ 3.0 g/dL) at baseline was significantly associated with the development of gefitinib-induced ILD (odds ratio, 3.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.20 to 12.71).

Conclusion

The incidence of gefitinib-induced ILD in Korean NSCLC patients was similar to that reported worldwide, but lower than values reported for Japanese population. ILD was usually a life-threatening adverse effect of gefitinib, and the development of ILD was significantly associated with a lower baseline serum albumin level.

Risk of interstitial lung disease associated with EGFR-TKIs in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of 24 phase III clinical trials

PURPOSE

To assess the risk of interstitial lung disease (ILD) with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) gefitinib, erlotinib, and afatinib.

METHOD

PubMed databases were searched for relevant articles. Statistical analyses were conducted to calculate the summary incidence, odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by using either random-effects or fixed-effect models.

RESULTS

The incidence of all-grade and high-grade (≧ grade 3) ILD associated with EGFR-TKIs was 1.6% (95% CI, 1.0-2.4%) and 0.9% (95% CI, 0.6%-1.4%), with a mortality of 13.0% (95% CI, 7.6-21.6%). Patients treated with EGFR-TKIs had a significantly increased risk of developing all-grade (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.25-2.43; P = 0.001) and high-grade (OR, 4.38; 95% CI, 2.18-8.79; P<0.001) ILD. No significant difference in the risk of ILD was found in sub-group analysis according to EGFR-TKIs, percentage of EGFR mutation, study location, EGFR-TKIs-based regimens, and controlled therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with EGFR-TKIs is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing ILD.

[Interstitial lung disease associated with lung cancer treatment]

Interstitial lung disease is one of the most serious side effects caused by lung cancer treatment. Due to the complexity diagnosis and variability of the disease, it is often not diagnosied and treated in time, even endanger the patient's life and affect the patient's prognosis. The mechanism of interstitial pneumonia caused by radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy is still not fully known. Therefore, it become a problem that how to early detection, diagnosis and treat the interstitial lung disease caused by lung cancer treatment and it should not be ignored in the future.