Erlotinib Induced Fatal Interstitial Lung Disease in a Patient with Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Case Report and Review of Literature

Erlotinib-associated interstitial pneumonitis with successful readministration

INTRODUCTION

Erlotinib is the main stay treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in recent years. Though, interstitial lung disease following erlotinib use is rarely develop, it is a fatal adverse event if not immediately treat.

CASE REPORT

We report the first case of erlotinib-induced interstitial pneumonitis with successful readministration. A Thai 64-year-old male patient with NSCLC, information includes patient presentation, laboratory findings, chest x-ray, computed tomography (CT) of chest, corticosteroid dose and duration.

MANAGEMENT & OUTCOME

The patient readministrated erlotinib after developed interstitial pneumonitis 3 weeks without developing second adverse event. Evaluation of disease after 2 months of treatment is stable disease per RECIST v1.1.

DISCUSSION

We assumed that the mechanism for interstitial pneumonitis are diverse and some mechanism is not related with drug directly but rather transient condition and the drug can be readministrated without developing second adverse event. This could lead to change in practice of erlotinib readministration in the future.