The safety and efficacy of carboplatin plus nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer patients with interstitial lung disease

Current pharmacotherapies for advanced lung cancer with pre-existing interstitial lung disease : A literature review and future perspectives

Patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), especially those with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, are at increased risk of developing lung cancer (LC). Pharmacotherapy for advanced LC has dramatically progressed in recent years;however, management of LC with pre-existing ILD (LC-ILD) is challenging due to serious concerns about the risk of acute exacerbation of ILD (AE-ILD). As patients with LC-ILD have been excluded from most prospective clinical trials of advanced LC, optimal pharmacotherapy remains to be elucidated. Although the antitumor activity of first-line platinum-based cytotoxic chemotherapy appears to be similar in advanced LC patients with or without ILD, its impact on the survival of patients with LC-ILD is limited. Immune checkpoint inhibitors may hold promise for long-term survival, but many challenges remain, including safety and appropriate patient selection. Further understanding the predictive factors for AE-ILD after receiving pharmacotherapy in LC-ILD may lead to appropriate patient selection and lower treatment risk. The aim of this review was to summarize the current evidence related to pharmacotherapy for advanced LC-ILD and discuss emerging areas of research. J. Med. Invest. 71 : 9-22, February, 2024.

Standard versus low-dose nab-paclitaxel in previously treated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A randomized phase II trial (JMTO LC14-01)

BACKGROUND

Nab-paclitaxel (nab-PTX) has better transfer to tumor tissue than cremophor-based paclitaxel. It suggests that the optimum dose of nab-PTX might be lower than the dose and schedule that is widely used. We designed a randomized phase II trial to examine the clinical utility and safety of nab-PTX in patients with previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive nab-PTX monotherapy at 100 mg/m² (group A) or 70 mg/m² (group B). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS

Finally, 81 patients were randomized. Similar results were observed in both groups for PFS (3.75 vs. 3.71 months), OS (13.50 vs. 16.13 months), or ORR (20.5% vs. 23.1%). The incidences of grade 3 or worse AEs were 57.5% in group A and 41.5% in group B. The proportion of serious side effects was 10.0% in group A and 4.9% in group B.

CONCLUSION

Both standard dose and low dose of nab-PTX monotherapy are active for previously treated NSCLC patients with better safety profile. Therefore, nab-PTX 70 mg/m² dose and schedule in the trial would be a reasonable option.

Case report: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis induced by nab-paclitaxel: A rare complication

Background: Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest gynecological cancers, with the most advanced disease and poor survival. Although BRCA genes play a key role in maintaining genomic stability and providing the possibility of clinically individualized treatments, with the emergence of new and more appropriate treatment options, new treatment-related adverse events are challenging and difficult for clinicians. Case presentation: An 80-year-old Chinese woman was diagnosed with stage IIIC ovarian high-grade serous adenocarcinoma (CT3cN1MX) with BRCA2 as the causative gene. She underwent three courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel 400 mg and carboplatin 450 mg before surgery. Chest HRCT prior to chemotherapy demonstrated bilateral interstitial pneumonia. During chemotherapy, there were four episodes of dry cough, shortness of breath, dyspnea, and three episodes of bone marrow suppression. The symptoms became intermittent and progressively worse, and after three sessions of empirical cough and phlegm relief, oxygen inhalation, corticosteroids, anti-infectives, and leukopenia therapy, the symptoms became intermittent and progressively worse. The diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis came a week after the third round of chemotherapy. After a strong dose of corticosteroids and nintedanib anti-fibrosis therapy, the pulmonary symptoms abated, and intermediate tumor starvation was performed. The combination therapy was subsequently discontinued, and the patient experienced significant relief from pulmonary symptoms. Treatment response was positive following single-agent nab-paclitaxel 400 mg chemotherapy in combination with nintedanib 150 mg anti-fibrosis therapy. Conclusion: In this report, we describe a rare case of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis associated with the use of nab-paclitaxel and carboplatin in ovarian cancer. During treatment, it is necessary to maintain a high level of vigilance for patients with interstitial pneumonia and engage the attention of clinicians to improve medication safety. Early diagnosis and anti-fibrosis therapy can reverse lung damage.

Efficacy and safety of second-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer complicated by interstitial lung disease

BACKGROUND

Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) is limited because of the risk of its acute exacerbation (AE). Furthermore, the efficacy and safety of second-line chemotherapy for these patients is unclear.

METHODS

To investigate the efficacy and safety of second-line chemotherapy for NSCLC patients with ILD, we retrospectively reviewed patients who were treated at our institute between April 2010 and December 2018.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients received two or more regimens. Thirty-four patients were male and the median age at the initiation of second-line chemotherapy was 70 years. Almost all patients had a smoking history. Fourteen patients had adenocarcinoma and 15 had squamous cell carcinoma histology. Stages III and IV were observed in 20 and 11 patients, respectively. With respect to the type of ILD, 12 patients had usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). The overall response rate and disease control rate were 11.4 and 68.6%, respectively. The median progression-free and median overall survival were 4.1 and 6.4 months, respectively. The AE of ILD was observed in eight patients, five of whom died. UIP and low percentage vital capacity were detected as significant risk factors for the AE of ILD.

CONCLUSION

Second-line chemotherapy among patients with NSCLC complicated by ILD showed a certain effectiveness, but some patients experienced the AE of ILD, which may lead to death. The risk of the AE of ILD must be considered especially for patients with UIP and low percentage VC.

Anti-Angiogenic Drugs Inhibit Interstitial Lung Disease Progression in Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most serious complication of chemotherapy in lung cancer patients with pre-existing ILD. The effect of anti-angiogenic drugs in lung cancer patients with ILD remains unclear. We examined the effect of anti-angiogenic drugs on reducing the risk of ILD progression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving chemotherapy.

Methods

We analyzed the risk of ILD progression in 52 patients with advanced NSCLC with ILD who received first-line chemotherapy with (anti-angiogenic group, n = 22) and without (non-anti-angiogenic group, n = 30) anti-angiogenic drugs between August 2014 and January 2021.

Results

The incidences of chemotherapy-related ILD progression were significantly lower in the anti-angiogenic than in the non-anti-angiogenic groups (0% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.033). However, there were no differences in other events as the competing risk factors of ILD progression between the two groups. The overall-cumulative incidence of ILD progression during the first-line and subsequent chemotherapy was 30.8% (16 of the 52). The median progression-free survival had no significant difference between the anti-angiogenic and the non-anti-angiogenic groups (10.3 vs. 8.1 months, p = 0.386).

Conclusions

The addition of anti-angiogenic drugs to chemotherapy regimens may reduce the risk of chemotherapy-related ILD progression in patients with NSCLC-ILD.

A phase II feasibility study of carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with interstitial lung disease (YLOG0114)

Background

A standard treatment regimen for advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) has not been established since most clinical trials exclude such patients because of the high risk of acute exacerbation of ILD. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the efficacy and safety of carboplatin and nab‐paclitaxel as a first‐line regimen for NSCLC patients with ILD.

Methods

The enrolled patients had treatment‐naïve advanced NSCLC with ILD. The patients received 4–6 cycles of carboplatin (area under the curve = 5) on day 1 and nab‐paclitaxel 100 mg/m² on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was the completion rate of four or more cycles. Secondary endpoints included toxicity, overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression‐free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

Results

Twenty‐five patients were enrolled in this study. Nine patients had adenocarcinoma, 11 had squamous cell carcinoma, one had large cell carcinoma, and four had NSCLC, not otherwise specified. The completion rate of ≥4 cycles was 76% (95% confidence interval: 56.2%–88.8%), which met the primary endpoint. The ORR and DCR were 44% and 88%, respectively. The median PFS and OS were 5.8 months and 15.8 months, respectively. Three patients experienced grade ≥2 pneumonitis, and one patient met the acute exacerbation criteria.

Conclusion

The 4‐week modified regimen of carboplatin and nab‐paclitaxel showed tolerable toxicity with favorable efficacy in NSCLC patients with ILD. This regimen may be an effective treatment option for patients in real clinical settings.

Real-world evaluation of second line chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring preexisting interstitial lung disease

BACKGROUND

The optimal second and subsequent lines of chemotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have preexisting interstitial lung disease (ILD) are unclear. Hence, we examined the clinical efficacy and safety of second-line chemotherapy in such patients, including any exacerbation of preexisting ILD.

METHODS

The medical records of patients with NSCLC and preexisting ILD who received both first- and second-line chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients with a median age of 71 years who were treated between April 2013 and March 2021 were included. The response rate after second-line chemotherapy with S-1 (n = 13), docetaxel (n = 8), pemetrexed (n = 2), or docetaxel plus ramucirumab (n = 1) was 12.5%, with a median progression-free survival (2nd line PFS) of 3.8 months. The overall survival from a start of first-line chemotherapy (1st line OS) and post-progression survival (PPS) post-first-line chemotherapy were 18.7 and 9.7 months, respectively. Spearman rank correlation and linear regression analyses showed that PPS was strongly correlated with 1st line OS (R = 0.85, P < 0.00001). Importantly, the 2nd line PFS was also significantly correlated with 1st line OS (R = 0.71, P = 0.0001). While second-line chemotherapy-related acute exacerbation of ILD was observed in 7 patients (29.2%), there were no treatment-related fatalities. Conslusions. Second-line chemotherapy has a strong positive impact on the OS of patients with NSCLC who have preexisting ILD. Given the findings of this study, second-line chemotherapy may be valuable in terms of prolonging long-term OS.

A novel circular RNA, hsa_circ_0030998 suppresses lung cancer tumorigenesis and Taxol resistance by sponging miR-558

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded RNAs which form a covalently closed continuous loop. Although originally shown to be non-protein-coding, some circRNAs can give rise to micropeptides. circRNAs have also been shown to play essential regulatory roles in a variety of developmental and disease processes. In a previous study, hsa_circ_0030998 was identified as a circRNA downregulated in lung cancer, but its potential implications and mechanisms in lung cancer were not addressed. Here, we showed that overexpressing circ_0030998 decreased proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells, while also dampening resistance to Taxol, a classical antitumor drug. Depleting circ_0030998 reversed these phenotypic effects. A high circ_0030998 expression was correlated with a high survival rate in lung cancer patients. Additionally, we found circ_0030998 could downregulate miR-558 expression, serving as a microRNA sponge. In conclusion, our data support that hsa_circ_0030998 can slow down the progression of lung cancer by targeting miR-558 and suppress malignant phenotypes such as proliferation, migration, and invasion progression of lung cancer cells. Therefore, we highlight that circ_0030998 could be a novel tumor suppressor of lung cancer.

The Efficacy and Safety of First-Line Chemotherapy in Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Interstitial Lung Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Lung cancer is a well-known comorbidity of interstitial lung disease (ILD), and the actual efficacy and safety of chemotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer and interstitial lung disease (NSCLC-ILD) have not been determined. We conducted this meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy for patients with NSCLC-ILD.

Methods: We searched related studies from the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase. The endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), 1-year overall survival rate (1-yOS rate), and first-line chemotherapy-related acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease rate (AE-ILD rate).

Results: We included 21 studies involving 684 patients in our analysis. The pooled ORR was 43% (95% CI: 38.0–49.0%), and the pooled DCR was 80.0% (95% CI: 75.7–83.9%). The modified overall 1-yOS rate was 33.0% (95% CI: 29.0–37.0%). The pooled AE-ILD rate was 8.07% (95% CI: 6.12–10.26%). Subgroup analysis revealed a trend for lower AE-ILD rate (4.98%; 95% CI: 2.44–8.37%) in patients with carboplatin plus nab-paclitaxel. Lung function and AE-ILD may be associated with the prognosis of patients with NSCLC-ILD.

Conclusions: First-line chemotherapy is effective in patients with NSCLC-ILD, and the AE-ILD rate is acceptable, but the prognosis is limited. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to explore more appropriate treatment regimens to improve the prognosis of patients with NSCLC-ILD.

[A Review of Drug Therapy of Lung Cancer with Interstitial Lung Disease]

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a risk factor for lung cancer. Patients with lung cancer associated with ILD (LC-ILD) often appear clinically. During the treatment of LC-ILD, there is a risk of causing acute exacerbation or even death in the treatment of lung cancer. At the same time, combining ILD has become the exclusion criteria for prospective clinical trials of most lung cancers. Therefore, when lung cancer is combined with ILD, it often becomes a difficult point for the treatment of lung cancer. Because LC-ILD patients have a certain proportion in the clinic, it is necessary to explore the best treatment options. Here we review the results of existing clinical studies for reference.

Prediction of Anti-Cancer Drug-Induced Pneumonia in Lung Cancer Patients: Novel High-Resolution Computed Tomography Fibrosis Scoring

Background and objective: Pre-existing interstitial lung disease (ILD) in lung cancer patients is considered a risk factor for anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia; however, a method for evaluating ILD, including mild cases, has not yet been established. We aimed to elucidate whether the quantitative high-resolution computed tomography fibrosis score (HFS) is correlated with the risk of anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia in lung cancer patients, even in those with mild pre-existing ILD. Methods: The retrospective single-institute study cohort comprised 214 lung cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy between April 2013 and March 2016. The HFS quantitatively evaluated the grade of pre-existing ILD. We extracted data regarding age, sex, smoking history, and coexisting factors that could affect the incidence of anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the effects of the HFS and other factors on the risk of anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia. Results: Pre-existing ILD was detected in 61 (29%) of 214 patients, while honeycombing and traction bronchiectasis were observed in only 15 (7.0%) and 10 (4.7%) patients, respectively. Anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia developed in 19 (8.9%) patients. The risk of anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia increased in proportion to the HFS (hazard ratio, 1.16 per point; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.22; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The quantitative HFS was correlated with the risk of developing anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia in lung cancer patients, even in the absence of honeycombing or traction bronchiectasis. The quantitative HFS may lead to better management of lung cancer patients with pre-existing ILD.

Phase II study of nab-paclitaxel + carboplatin for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and interstitial lung disease

The prognosis of non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) is poor, and 5%‐20% of those receiving chemotherapy experience ILD exacerbation. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of nab‐paclitaxel plus carboplatin for NSCLC patients with ILD, we undertook a multicenter phase II study. Chemotherapy‐naïve patients with advanced NSCLC and mild or moderate ILD received nab‐paclitaxel (100 mg/m², days 1, 8, and 15) plus carboplatin (area under the curve = 6, day 1) every 3 weeks for 4 cycles (maximum, 6 cycles). Interstitial lung diseases were diagnosed based on criteria for fibrosing interstitial pneumonia. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of exacerbation‐free ILD 28 days after completion of protocol treatment. Secondary endpoints were response rate, progression‐free survival, overall survival, prevalence of exacerbation‐free ILD, and toxicity. Ninety‐four patients were enrolled, and 92 patients received any protocol treatment. Median age was 70 years, and 58% had nonsquamous histology. In the primary analysis, the prevalence of exacerbation‐free ILD 28 days after protocol treatment was 95.7% (88/92; 90% confidence interval, 90.3‐98.5), which met the primary endpoint. Response rate was 51% (95% confidence interval, 40%‐62%). At the time of data cut‐off, median progression‐free survival was 6.2 months, and median overall survival was 15.4 months. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (75%), leukopenia (53%), anemia (48%), and thrombocytopenia (20%). Two treatment‐related deaths (1 each of pulmonary infection and ILD exacerbation) were observed. This study showed that a combination of nab‐paclitaxel with carboplatin was tolerable in NSCLC patients with mild or moderate ILD in terms of safety. This study is registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Clinical Trial Registry (UMIN 000012989).

Real world data of combined lung cancer and interstitial lung disease

Background

Research patients with combined lung cancer (LC) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) is insufficient. The objective of the study was to identify the frequency of such patients and treatments, including best supportive care (BSC), in the real world.

Methods

All patients with LC who were admitted to our hospital over a 5-year period from 2013 to 2017 were retrospectively analysed.

Results

In this study, 698 patients with LC were enrolled. A total of 148 (21.2%) suffered from LC and ILD. Seventy-one LC-ILD patients received chemotherapy, and 20 LC-ILD patients received BSC only. Eleven BSC patients whom physicians thought could receive therapy declined treatment. The median survival time of patients who received chemotherapy was 14.3 months (95% confidence interval, 8.5-19.4 months). The median survival time of BSC patients who declined treatment was 7.2 months and that was shorter than that of patients who received chemotherapy.

Conclusions

This study suggests that patients with combined LC and ILD are common (21.2%) in the real world, and there is the possibility that therapy for LC-ILD patients is beneficial.

A prospective phase II study of carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and concomitant interstitial lung disease (HOT1302)

OBJECTIVES

Patients with concomitant advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) are excluded from most clinical chemotherapy trials because of the high risk of exacerbating the latter condition. This study prospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) in combination with carboplatin in patients with both advanced NSCLC and ILD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The enrolled patients had treatment-naïve, advanced NSCLC with ILD. Patients received 100 mg/m²nab-paclitaxel weekly and carboplatin at an area under the concentration-time curve of 6 once every 3 weeks for 4-6 cycles. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR); secondary endpoints included toxicity, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients were enrolled between April 2014 and September 2017. Sixteen patients (44.4%) had adenocarcinoma, 15 (41.7%) had squamous cell carcinoma (Sq), and 5 (13.9%) had non-small cell carcinoma. The median number of cycles administered were 4 (range: 1-6). The ORR was 55.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 39.6-70.5). The median PFS and OS were 5.3 months (95% CI: 3.9-8.2) and 15.4 months (95% CI: 9.4-18.7), respectively. A greater proportion of patients with Sq experienced improvements than did those with non-Sq: ORRs, 66.7% (95% CI: 41.7-84.8) vs. 47.6% (95% CI: 28.3-67.6) (P = 0.254); median PFS, 8.2 months (95% CI: 4.0-10.2) vs. 4.1 months (95% CI: 3.3-5.4) (HR, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.30-1.20]; P = 0.15); and median OS, 16.8 months (95% CI: 9.8-not reached) vs. 11.9 months (95% CI: 7.3-17.4) (HR, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.24-1.28]; P = 0.17). Two patients (5.6%) experienced grade ≥2 pneumonitis and 1 patient (2.8%) died.

CONCLUSION

Weekly nab-paclitaxel combined with carboplatin showed favorable efficacy with acceptable toxicity in patients with both advanced NSCLC and ILD.

Real-World Evidence of Safety and Efficacy of Carboplatin plus Nanoparticle Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel in Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Preexisting Interstitial Lung Disease: A Retrospective Study

Background

Standard chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with preexisting interstitial lung disease (ILD) has not yet been established. Although a combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel is most frequently used for patients with advanced NSCLC and ILD, the safety and efficacy of carboplatin plus nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) are yet to be elucidated.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of carboplatin plus nab-paclitaxel for advanced NSCLC with ILD.

Methods

This retrospective study included nine patients with advanced NSCLC and ILD who received carboplatin plus nab-paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy at the National Hospital Organization Kanazawa Medical Center between April 2013 and December 2017. The ILD-GAP index was used to evaluate mortality risk of baseline ILD.

Results

A usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern of ILD was observed in five (55.6%) patients on their baseline high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans. The median ILD-GAP index was 4 (range, 1–5), and six (66.7%) patients had ILD-GAP index ≥4. We observed no ILD exacerbations or chemotherapy-related deaths. The overall response and disease control rates were 77.8% (95% CI, 40.0–97.2) and 88.9% (95% CI, 51.8–97.2), respectively. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 5.8 months (95% CI, 2.1–7.7) and 8.0 months (95% CI, 2.6–16.8), respectively.

Conclusions

Carboplatin plus nab-paclitaxel showed favorable safety and efficacy in patients who had advanced NSCLC and ILD with a high risk of mortality. Prospective studies are required to further confirm these results.

Real-world evaluation of carboplatin plus a weekly dose of nab-paclitaxel for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer with interstitial lung disease

Background

The optimal chemotherapy regimen for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the real-world efficacy and safety of carboplatin (CBDCA) plus nab-paclitaxel (nab-PTX) as a first-line regimen for NSCLC patients with ILD.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively reviewed advanced NSCLC patients with ILD who had received CBDCA plus nab-PTX as a first-line chemotherapy regimen between April 2013 and March 2018. Patients were diagnosed with ILD based on the findings of a pretreatment high-resolution computed tomography of the chest.

Results

The 34 patients enrolled in this study were included in the efficacy and safety analysis. Collagen vascular disease or a history of exposure to dust or asbestos was not reported for any patients. The median age of patients was 71 years (range, 59–83 years), and 32 patients had a performance status of 0 or 1. The overall response rate was 38.2%. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 5.8 months and 12.7 months, respectively. Chemotherapy-related acute exacerbation of ILD was observed in two patients (5.7%). Other toxicities were feasible, and no treatment-related deaths occurred.

Conclusion

CBDCA plus nab-PTX, as a first-line chemotherapy regimen for NSCLC, showed favorable efficacy and safety in patients with preexisting ILD.

The Safety and Efficacy of Treatment with Nab-paclitaxel and Carboplatin for Patients with Advanced Squamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Concurrent with Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias

Objective Although lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounts for 20-30% of lung cancer cases, new treatment options are limited. The CA031 study showed that nanoparticle albumin-bound-paclitaxel (nab-PTX) plus carboplatin produced a significantly higher overall response rate (41%) than solvent-based paclitaxel plus carboplatin in patients with lung SCC. However, the safety and efficacy of combination chemotherapy of nab-PTX and carboplatin has not yet been established for patients with concurrent lung SCC and idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs). The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy profiles of nab-PTX and carboplatin in patients with lung SCC and concurrent IIPs. Methods Eight patients with inoperable-stage lung SCC and IIPs were treated with nab-PTX plus carboplatin in a first-line setting between June 2013 and December 2016. One of the eight was a woman, and the median age was 77 (range=72-80) years. Their clinical outcomes, including chemotherapy-associated acute exacerbation of IIPs, were retrospectively investigated. Results The overall response rate was 50%, the median progression-free survival time was 5.6 months, and the median overall survival time was 8.1 months. No patients experienced chemotherapy-related exacerbation of IIPs in the first-line treatment with nab-PTX plus carboplatin. However, IIPs worsened in two of four patients who received second-line chemotherapy. Conclusion Combination chemotherapy of nab-PTX and carboplatin may be an effective and safe treatment option for patients with inoperable lung SCC with IIPs. To confirm this, a large-scale prospective study is needed.