Incidence and clinical features of drug-induced lung injury in patients with advanced colorectal cancer receiving cetuximab: results of a prospective multicenter registry

Case report: Interstitial lung disease of XELOEX chemotherapy with cetuximab in advanced colon cancer induced

INTRODUCTION

This paper presents a case of a Chinese patient with advanced colon cancer who developed drug-induced interstitial lung disease while undergoing treatment with cetuximab combined with XELOX.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 75-year-old man with a history of colon cancer, had metastases in the liver, peritoneum, and lungs, which were initially treated with XELOX and cetuximab (0.4 g) in 2019. However, the lung metastases progressed, and the cetuximab dosage was adjusted to 0.9 g and then readjusted to 0.4 g.

DIAGNOSIS

In January 2021, computed tomography revealed developed interstitial lung disease, leading to the discontinuation of chemotherapy and cetuximab.

INTERVENTIONS

Receiving methylprednisolone pulse therapy.

OUTCOMES

The patient experienced respiratory failure and passed away. The Naranjo Algorithm Assessment score indicated a probable relationship between cetuximab and the adverse event.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the need for regular pulmonary imaging examinations during cetuximab therapy, as drug-induced interstitial lung disease may be associated with the dose and duration of treatment.

Is MG53 a potential therapeutic target for cancer?

Cancer treatment still encounters challenges, such as side effects and drug resistance. The tripartite-motif (TRIM) protein family is widely involved in regulation of the occurrence, development, and drug resistance of tumors. MG53, a member of the TRIM protein family, shows strong potential in cancer therapy, primarily due to its E3 ubiquitin ligase properties. The classic membrane repair function and anti-inflammatory capacity of MG53 may also be beneficial for cancer prevention and treatment. However, MG53 appears to be a key regulatory factor in impaired glucose metabolism and a negative regulatory mechanism in muscle regeneration that may have a negative effect on cancer treatment. Developing MG53 mutants that balance the pros and cons may be the key to solving the problem. This article aims to summarize the role and mechanism of MG53 in the occurrence, progression, and invasion of cancer, focusing on the potential impact of the biological function of MG53 on cancer therapy.

Efficacy and safety of EGFR inhibitors and radiotherapy in locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of EGFR inhibitors combined with (chemo)radiotherapy in unresectable, locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Materials & methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective trials was performed. Results: Twenty-eight studies of 1640 patients were included. In patients harboring EGFR-sensitive mutations, the pooled objective response rate, 1-year overall survival rate and 1-year progression-free survival rate of EGFR-TKIs + (chemo)radiotherapy were 0.803, 0.766 and 0.554, respectively. Compared with chemoradiotherapy, the addition of EGFR inhibitors did not significantly increase the risk of grade ≥3 pneumonitis and esophagitis. Conclusion: EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with (chemo)radiotherapy are tolerable and the clinical benefit is promising, especially in patients with EGFR-sensitive mutations.

Severe interstitial pneumonia caused by cetuximab: a case report and review of the literature

Cetuximab is an IgG1 chimeric mAb against epidermal growth factor receptor, which can be used for chemotherapy failure or tolerance in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor expressed RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. We report on a patient who developed rapid-onset interstitial pneumonia while being treated with cetuximab plus XELOX (oxaliplatin, capecitabine) for metastatic colorectal cancer. A 75-year-old man patient was administered cetuximab plus XELOX regularly. After his cetuximab schedule was adjusted from 1 to 2 weeks, he rapidly developed interstitial pneumonia which led to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Our literature review indicated that, for patients with risk factors, a 2-week regimen of cetuximab might lead to interstitial pneumonia. Clinicians should closely monitor patients for adverse drug reactions to improve drug safety.

Neck emphysema in a HNSCC cancer patient undergoing concurrent radiotherapy and cetuximab

Background

Lung toxicity in patients undergoing cetuximab and radiotherapy (Cetux-RT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been reported in literature and represents a serious side effect of concurrent therapies.

Methods

We report a case of a HNSCC patient that developed neck emphysema during the course of Cetux-RT. The patient was an old male (80 years old) in a good performance status, with an oropharyngeal cancer (T4aN3a).

Results

During RT, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) showed bilateral neck emphysema that was confirmed at restaging CT. We decided to stop the treatment and to treat the neck emphysema with conservative strategies. After one week CT was repeated and the neck emphysema had improved, so we decided to complete the RT treatment.

Conclusions

Patients undergoing Cetux-RT must be properly selected, whereas IGRT imaging must be viewed carefully in order to permit an early diagnosis and careful management of the patients.

Incidence and risk factors of interstitial lung disease of patients with head and neck cancer treated with cetuximab

BACKGROUND

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is known as a potentially severe adverse event associated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapy. The incidence and risk factors of ILD in patients with head and neck squamous cancer (HNSCC) treated with cetuximab, an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, have not been established.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with HNSCC who received cetuximab from December 2012 to December 2016 at our institute and evaluated the incidence and risk factors of ILD.

RESULTS

Of the 201 patients with HNSCC, ILD was observed in 9 patients (4.5%), 8 of whom had grade 3 or higher. High Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) and ≥50 pack-years of smoking were significantly predictive of associated with ILD (P = 0.00011 and 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of ILD in patients with HNSCC treated with cetuximab was <5%, but most of the ILD cases were severe. High KL-6 and smoking histories might be predictive for ILD among patients with HNSCC.

Cetuximab-associated pulmonary toxicity in concurrent chemoradiation for the treatment of a squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

BACKGROUND

Cetuximab is a common EGFR monoclonal antibody used with radiotherapy to treat head-and-neck cancer. Severe pulmonary toxicity, including interstitial lung disease (ILD), caused by cetuximab is rare.

METHODS

We describe a patient who developed ILD and acute respiratory failure after concurrent chemoradiation with cetuximab for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and review the literature.

RESULTS

A patient developed acute respiratory failure 2 months after starting concurrent chemoradiation with cetuximab and was hospitalized in intensive care after a procedure for progressive respiratory distress. Cultures and serology were negative for infection and radiologic findings were consistent with drug associated pneumonitits. Steroids were administered until the patient was stabilized. The patient fully recovered 1 month after the onset of respiratory distress, although he died of recurrent disease 10 months after completing treatment.

CONCLUSION

Although severe pulmonary toxicity caused by EGFR inhibitors has been well described in the literature, ILD caused by cetuximab, an EGFR monoclonal antibody, is rare and not well-documented. Given its life-threatening effects, awareness of this potential side effect and early diagnosis is critical.

Interstitial Lung Disease Associated With Cetuximab in Patients With Head and Neck Carcinoma: A Single-Institution Experience in Japan

Objective:

This study retrospectively analyzed the risk of interstitial lung disease with cetuximab using risk factors known to be associated with interstitial lung disease during administration of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI).

Summary of background data:

Cetuximab is an inhibitor of EGFR commonly used for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Interstitial lung disease is a rare but serious adverse event of cetuximab. EGFR-TKIs are molecularly targeted drugs resembling cetuximab and show increased risk of interstitial lung disease associated with positive smoking history, age &gt;55 years, preexisting lung disorder, and poor performance status.

Methods:

Among 44 patients treated with cetuximab for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck between March 2013 and April 2015 at Tokyo Medical University, 6 patients developed interstitial lung disease. Smoking history, age, preexisting lung disorder, and performance status were examined for these 6 patients.

Results:

Two of these 6 patients died due to interstitial lung disease. All patients with interstitial lung disease were &gt;55 years old and had a history of smoking. Three patients with interstitial lung disease had a preexisting lung disorder. Performance status was 0 in 4 patients and 1 in 2 patients.

Conclusions:

Age &gt;55 years, smoking history, and preexisting lung disease may represent risk factors for interstitial lung disease during cetuximab treatment for head and neck carcinoma, whereas performance status may not.

Fatal interstitial lung disease caused by Panitumumab-containing chemotherapy regimen

Fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the rare side effects of Panitumumab. Both fatal and non-fatal ILD have been reported mainly in the Japanese population. We report a case of a nonsmoking Caucasian man with the diagnosis of metastatic rectal cancer (K-RAS wild-type) who developed fatal ILD after receiving a Panitumumab-containing chemotherapy regimen. He initially presented with a locally advanced rectal cancer (T3N2M0) for which he received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Before the rectal surgery, he was found to have liver metastases which were considered potentially resectable. The decision was to delay the rectal surgery and to start systemic treatment. He was started on Modified De Gramont regimen (folinic acid and fluorouracil) plus Oxaliplatin with Panitumumab. Six months later, he underwent rectal surgery which showed a complete response. He continued on systemic treatment while awaiting liver metastasectomy. After three courses of Modified De Gramont plus Oxaliplatin with Panitumumab, he was admitted with few days’ history of increasing shortness of breath. High-resolution computed tomography of the lungs showed the features of interstitial pneumonitis. Despite receiving appropriate treatment, he continued to deteriorate and died due to respiratory failure.

Interstitial lung disease secondary to Cetuximab in bladder cancer: an Oncologist's perspective

A wide variety of cytotoxic medications cause interstitial lung disease (ILD). For the first time, we describe ILD in an 82-year-old woman with muscle invasive bladder cancer 10 days after receiving cetuximab as part of a novel trial. She had no significant medical history or drug allergies, had good exercise tolerance and a 5 pack-year smoking history. She received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (gemcitabine, cisplatin) with a good response on MRI. She was eligible for a phase 2 trial of cetuximab with chemotherapy and radiotherapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer (TUXEDO), in which the trial arm used cetuximab plus standard chemoradiotherapy to the bladder (64 grey in 32 fractions plus mitomycinandfluorouracil). Ten days after her third infusion of cetuximab, she was presented with type 1 respiratory failure. Thoracic CT scan demonstrated new widespread ground glass change in the lungs. She received high-dose steroids (prednisolone 1 mg/kg), broad spectrum antibacterial cover and non-invasive ventilation. She survived to be discharged with residual respiratory failure.

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.

Interstitial lung disease following FOLFOX + FOLFIRI and bevacizumab therapy associated with leucovorin: A case report

Chemotherapy-induced interstitial lung disease in colorectal cancer patients is rare but represents a life-threatening adverse reaction. We report here a case of interstitial lung disease following chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer and the interesting results of the drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation test and leukocyte migration test. After chemotherapy with oxaliplatin plus infusional 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFOX) plus bevacizumab followed by irinotecan plus infusional 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFIRI), the patient was hospitalized with fever and chills. Laboratory data showed neutropenia and eosinophilia. Computed tomography revealed ground-glass opacities in both lungs; therefore, we diagnosed chemotherapy-induced interstitial lung disease. Steroid therapy was effective. We suspected irinotecan to be the etiological drug for interstitial lung disease in this patient because interstitial lung disease developed after switching the regimen from FOLFOX to FOLFIRI. However, drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation test and leukocyte migration test results were positive for only leucovorin and negative for irinotecan and 5-fluorouracil. This is the first case to show positive results on the drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation test and leukocyte migration test for only leucovorin and negative results for antineoplastic drugs. Our findings suggest that all drugs included in chemotherapy regimens have the potential to induce interstitial lung disease, and if rechallenge chemotherapy is considered, the drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation test and leukocyte migration test are expected to be useful for determining the drug that needs to be excluded.

Preoperative selection of patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis for hepatic resection

Surgical resection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) has a well-documented improvement in survival. To benefit from this intervention, proper selection of patients who would be adequate surgical candidates becomes vital. A combination of imaging techniques may be utilized in the detection of the lesions. The criteria for resection are continuously evolving; currently, the requirements that need be met to undergo resection of CRLM are: the anticipation of attaining a negative margin (R0 resection), whilst maintaining an adequate functioning future liver remnant. The timing of hepatectomy in regards to resection of the primary remains controversial; before, after, or simultaneously. This depends mainly on the tumor burden and symptoms from the primary tumor. The role of chemotherapy differs according to the resectability of the liver lesion(s); no evidence of improved survival was shown in patients with resectable disease who received preoperative chemotherapy. Presence of extrahepatic disease in itself is no longer considered a reason to preclude patients from resection of their CRLM, providing limited extra-hepatic disease, although this currently is an area of active investigations. In conclusion, we review the indications, the adequate selection of patients and perioperative factors to be considered for resection of colorectal liver metastasis.

Initial experience of radiotherapy plus cetuximab for Japanese head and neck cancer patients

In Japan, cetuximab with concurrent bioradiotherapy (BRT) for squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) was approved in December 2012. We herein report our initial experience of BRT, with special emphasis on acute toxicities of this combination therapy. Thirty-one non-metastatic SCCHN patients who underwent BRT using cetuximab between July 2013 and June 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. All patients received cetuximab with a loading dose of 400 mg/m(2) one week before the start of radiotherapy, followed by 250 mg/m(2) per week during radiotherapy. The median cycle of cetuximab was seven cycles and the median dose of radiotherapy was 70 Gy. Twenty-five patients (80.6%) accomplished planned radiotherapy and six cycles or more cetuximab administration. Six patients (19.4%) discontinued cetuximab. Grade 3 dermatitis, mucositis and infusion reaction occurred in 19.4%, 48.3% and 3.2%, respectively. One patient experienced Grade 3 gastrointestinal bleeding caused by diverticular hemorrhage during BRT. Grade 3 drug-induced pneumonitis occurred in two patients. The response rate was 74%, including 55% with a complete response. BRT using cetuximab for Japanese patients with SCCHN was feasible as an alternative for cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiation, although longer follow-up is necessary to evaluate late toxicities.

Clinical features and risk factors of panitumumab-induced interstitial lung disease: a postmarketing all-case surveillance study

Background

Drug-induced interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most serious adverse reactions associated with the molecularly targeted drugs. Panitumumab has been approved for advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer. Although there were no adverse reaction reports of ILD in panitumumab monotherapy, 4 cases in combination chemotherapy were reported prior to its approval in Japan in 2010. Several studies also reported that the incidence of drug-induced ILD was higher in Japan than in other countries. The clinical features of ILD and the associated risk factors therefore need investigation.

Methods

We analyzed the data from 3085 unresectable, advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer patients enrolled in a postmarketing all-case surveillance study of panitumumab in Japan. ILD case reports were assessed based on the clinical and radiologic findings by a committee of external experts. Multivariate analysis using Cox’s hazard model identified the risk factors.

Results

ILD incidence (1.3 %) and mortality rates (51.3 %) were similar to those of patients receiving another anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody in Japan. No specific onset timing was determined. Although panitumumab-specific ILD findings were not observed in computed tomography images or clinical practice, panitumumab can induce ILD with diffuse alveolar damage, as do the other anti-EGFR targeting drugs. A history/complication of ILD, male sex, poor general condition, and 65 years or older were identified as ILD risk factors, and no history of previous drug treatment was an apparent risk factor.

Conclusion

Panitumumab-induced ILD can occur at any time after initiation, and close and regular monitoring is needed.