Severe interstitial pneumonitis associated with docetaxel administration

Docetaxel-induced lung injury

Docetaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent commonly used against breast cancer, nonsmall cell lung cancer, gastric, prostate, head and neck cancer. Docetaxel- or taxane-induced interstitial lung disease (ILD) remains a relatively rare reported adverse event. Although rare, this complication remains an important event to identify and it carries a high mortality. We reported the case series of three patients who had pulmonary toxicity after docetaxel administration. Although literature has described patients progressing to respiratory failure and intubation, our patients responded well to steroid treatment and discontinued docetaxel administration.

Drug-induced Lung Disease in the Oncology Patient: From Cytotoxic Agents to Immunotherapy

Drug-induced lung disease is commonly encountered, especially in the oncology setting. Diagnosis is challenging because clinical and radiologic findings are nonspecific, often overlapping with other lung pathologies in these patients due to underlying neoplasia, infection, or other treatment effects such as radiotherapy. Furthermore, oncology patients often receive multiple antineoplastic agents concurrently, and virtually every agent has an association with lung injury. In this article, we will review a variety of antineoplastic agents that are associated with drug-induced injury and discuss incidence, their typical timing of onset, and imaging features.

Assessing safety concerns of interstitial lung disease associated with antibody-drug conjugates: a real-world pharmacovigilance evaluation of the FDA adverse event reporting system

BACKGROUND

Antibody-drug conjugates have revolutionized cancer therapy due to their selectivity and efficacy. However, concerns have been raised regarding the potential effects of trastuzumab deruxtecan in interstitial lung diseases.

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the safety signals and time to onset of antibody-drug conjugates induced interstitial lung disease.

METHOD

We utilized the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database (2004-2022) to identify interstitial lung disease safety signals in 13 FDA-approved antibody-drug conjugates. Disproportionality analysis was conducted to estimate the reporting odds ratios for interstitial lung disease.

RESULTS

Seven antibody-drug conjugates exhibited safety signals of interstitial lung disease: trastuzumab deruxtecan [reporting odds ratio, ROR (95% confidence intervals, CI) = 64.15 (57.07-72.10)], enfortumab vedotin [ROR (95% CI) = 5.24 (3.25-8.43)], trastuzumab emtansine [ROR (95% CI) = 3.62 (2.90-4.53)], brentuximab vedotin [ROR (95% CI) = 3.22 (2.49-4.17)], polatuzumab vedotin [ROR (95% CI) = 2.56 (1.59-4.12)], gemtuzumab ozogamicin [ROR (95% CI) = 2.53 (1.70-3.78)], and inotuzumab ozogamicin [ROR (95% CI) = 2.33 (1.21-4.49)]. Five antibody-drug conjugates with limited reports were excluded from further analysis: belantamab mafodotin, loncastuximab tesirine, mirvetuximab sorafenib, tisotumab vedotin, and moxetumomab pasudotox. Japan and the United States were the primary reporting countries.

CONCLUSION

This real-world study highlights high safety signals of interstitial lung disease associated with antibody-drug conjugates. Clinicians should be aware of these safety concerns and risk factors and implement early identification measures for their patients. Future research should prioritize comprehensively exploring the relationship between antibody-drug conjugates and lung diseases.

Detection of Docetaxel-induced Interstitial Pneumonitis on Ga-68 PSMA PET/CT Imaging

Ga-68 labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) is increasingly recognized as the best imaging modality for disease staging and detection of recurrent prostate cancer. Despite its name, PSMA expression has been reported in the neovasculature of several nonprostatic benign and malignant pathologies. Docetaxel, a taxane antineoplastic agent, is the mainstay of treatment in castration-resistant prostate cancer and high-volume hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Although the occurrence of docetaxel-related interstitial lung disease is rare, it may lead to respiratory failure if treatment is delayed. We present a case of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, wherein docetaxel-induced interstitial pneumonitis was detected on Ga-68 PSMA PET/CT after docetaxel administration.

Detailed Sub-study Analysis of the SECRAB Trial: Quality of Life, Cosmesis and Chemotherapy Dose Intensity

AIMS

SECRAB was a prospective, open-label, multicentre, randomised phase III trial comparing synchronous to sequential chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Conducted in 48 UK centres, it recruited 2297 patients (1150 synchronous and 1146 sequential) between 2 July 1998 and 25 March 2004. SECRAB reported a positive therapeutic benefit of using adjuvant synchronous CRT in the management of breast cancer; 10-year local recurrence rates reduced from 7.1% to 4.6% (P = 0.012). The greatest benefit was seen in patients treated with anthracycline-cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil (CMF) rather than CMF. The aim of its sub-studies reported here was to assess whether quality of life (QoL), cosmesis or chemotherapy dose intensity differed between the two CRT regimens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The QoL sub-study used EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-BR23 and the Women's Health Questionnaire. Cosmesis was assessed: (i) by the treating clinician, (ii) by a validated independent consensus scoring method and (iii) from the patients' perspective by analysing four cosmesis-related QoL questions within the QLQ-BR23. Chemotherapy doses were captured from pharmacy records. The sub-studies were not formally powered; rather, the aim was that at least 300 patients (150 in each arm) were recruited and differences in QoL, cosmesis and dose intensity of chemotherapy assessed. The analysis, therefore, is exploratory in nature.

RESULTS

No differences were observed in the change from baseline in QoL between the two arms assessed up to 2 years post-surgery (Global Health Status: -0.05; 95% confidence interval -2.16, 2.06; P = 0.963). No differences in cosmesis were observed (via independent and patient assessment) up to 5 years post-surgery. The percentage of patients receiving the optimal course-delivered dose intensity (≥85%) was not significantly different between the arms (synchronous 88% versus sequential 90%; P = 0.503).

CONCLUSIONS

Synchronous CRT is tolerable, deliverable and significantly more effective than sequential, with no serious disadvantages identified when assessing 2-year QoL or 5-year cosmetic differences.

Treating advanced lung cancer in older Veterans with comorbid conditions and frailty

Advanced lung cancer is a deadly malignancy that is a common cause of death among Veterans. Significant advancements in lung cancer therapeutics have been made over the past decade and survival outcomes have improved. The Veteran population is older, has more medical comorbidities and frailty compared to the general population. These factors must be accounted for when evaluating patients for treatment and selecting treatment options. This article explores the impact of these important issues in the management of advanced lung cancer. Recent clinical trials leading to the approval of modern therapies will be outlined and treatment outcomes specific to older patients discussed. The impact of key comorbidities that are common in Veterans and their impact on lung cancer treatment will be reviewed. There is no gold standard frailty index for assessment of frailty in patients with advanced lung cancer and the ability to predict tolerability and benefit from systemic therapies. Currently available systemic therapies are associated with higher risk of adverse events and lower potential for clinically meaningful improvement in outcomes. Future research needs to focus on designing better frailty indices and developing novel therapies that are safer and more effective therapies for frail patients, who constitute a considerable proportion of individuals diagnosed with lung cancer.

Drug-induced interstitial pneumonia during perioperative chemotherapy for breast cancer

PURPOSE

Drug-induced interstitial pneumonia (DIP) that occurs during chemotherapy for breast cancer is a rare but a serious adverse event. Treatments of DIP requires interruption of breast cancer treatment, which may affect the patient's prognosis. However, there are few reports which discuss DIP during breast cancer treatments. Purpose of this report is to make clear how DIP occurred and influenced breast cancer treatment in our hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 74 patients who started perioperative chemotherapy in Tokushima Municipal Hospital for breast cancer from January 2019 to December 2020 were evaluated for DIP. Patients' and tumors' characteristics, and regimens which caused DIP were investigated. The clinical courses of the DIP patients were also followed up.

RESULTS

Twelve of the 74 patients developed DIP. All 12 patients had histories of cyclophosphamide administration;however, the causative drug could not be determined. Ten of the 12 patients were treated with steroids, and all the patients recovered ultimately from the interstitial pneumonia. While chemotherapy was administered in six patients after mild DIP, no relapse of pneumonia was observed.

CONCLUSION

DIP during perioperative chemotherapy for breast cancer was resolved with appropriate treatment. Patients were able to resume breast cancer treatment with minimal interruption. J. Med. Invest. 69 : 107-111, February, 2022.

Life-Threatening Docetaxel Toxicity in a Patient With Reduced-Function CYP3A Variants: A Case Report

Docetaxel therapy occasionally causes severe and life-threatening toxicities. Some docetaxel toxicities are related to exposure, and inter-individual variability in exposure has been described based on genetic variation and drug-drug interactions that impact docetaxel clearance. Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and CYP3A5 metabolize docetaxel into inactive metabolites, and this is the primary mode of docetaxel clearance. Supporting their role in these toxicities, increased docetaxel toxicities have been found in patients with reduced- or loss-of-function variants in CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. However, since these variants in CYP3A4 are rare, little is known about the safety of docetaxel in patients who are homozygous for the reduced-function CYP3A4 variants. Here we present a case of life-threatening (grade 4) pneumonitis, dyspnea, and neutropenia resulting from a single dose of docetaxel. This patient was (1) homozygous for CYP3A4*22, which causes reduced expression and is associated with increased docetaxel-related adverse events, (2) heterozygous for CYP3A4*3, a rare reduced-function missense variant, and (3) homozygous for CYP3A5*3, a common loss of function splicing defect that has been associated with increased docetaxel exposure and adverse events. The patient also carried functional variants in other genes involved in docetaxel pharmacokinetics that may have increased his risk of toxicity. We identified one additional CYP3A4*22 homozygote that received docetaxel in our research cohort, and present this case of severe hematological toxicity. Furthermore, the one other CYP3A4*22 homozygous patient we identified from the literature died from docetaxel toxicity. This case report provides further evidence for the need to better understand the impact of germline CYP3A variants in severe docetaxel toxicity and supports using caution when treating patients with docetaxel who have genetic variants resulting in CYP3A poor metabolizer phenotypes.

New-onset systemic sclerosis and scleroderma renal crisis under docetaxel

Systemic sclerosis is a rare systemic autoimmune disease characterized by microvascular impairment and fibrosis of the skin and other organs with poor outcomes. Toxic causes may be involved. We reported the case of a 59-year-old woman who developed an acute systemic sclerosis after two doses of adjuvant chemotherapy by docetaxel and cyclophosphamide for a localized hormone receptor + human epithelial receptor 2-breast cancer. Docetaxel is a major chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of breast, lung, and prostate cancers, among others. Scleroderma-like skin-induced changes (morphea) have been already described for taxanes. Here, we report for the first time a case of severe lung and kidney flare with thrombotic microangiopathy after steroids for acute interstitial lung disease probably induced by anti-RNA polymerase III + systemic sclerosis after docetaxel.

Docetaxel-induced interstitial lung disease among patients with breast cancer: a case series and review of literature

Taxane-induced pneumotoxicity is rare. However, 1-5% of patients taking docetaxel may develop severe pneumotoxicity. This has been limited to case reports in the literature. We report seven breast cancer patients who developed docetaxel-induced diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD) of an organizing pneumonia pattern on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The patients presented with progressive breathlessness within four weeks of the final dose. All had an organizing pneumonia pattern on their HRCTs, without other evidence of infection. Restrictive lung disease with low carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) was noted, with desaturation on a 6-min walk test (6MWT). They were started on prednisolone. Repeated HRCT after four to eight weeks from the commencement of steroid treatment showed marked improvement. The clinical and functional improvement were also significant. One patient succumbed to the illness as a result of severe lung involvement. Docetaxel-induced DPLD is a fatal adverse effect, which can be managed by the cessation of the drug and starting on steroids in adequate doses.

Docetaxel-Induced Lung Injury: An Under-Recognized Complication of a Commonly Used Chemotherapeutic Agent

Background: Docetaxel-induced pneumonitis is a rare, but potentially serious complication of a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent. Methods: We performed an audit of patients with suspected docetaxel pneumonitis from the tertiary cancer center. Results: Out of 477 patients who received docetaxel over a 1 year period, eight patients (1.7%) developed lung injury. All patients (median age: 43 years [34–65]) had breast cancer (four metastatic on palliative docetaxel, two were on neoadjuvant, and two were on adjuvant therapy) and had received a median of three cycles of docetaxel 75 mg/m2 in a 3 weekly schedule (7 as single agent and 1 in combination with cyclophosphamide). One patient had the preexisting pulmonary disease (localized bronchiectasis), and four had received prior radiation to the chest wall or dorsal spine. The median time from administration of the last dose was 16 days (8–28). Most (n = 6/8, 75%) required hospitalization. Three patients with CTCAE Grade 3 pneumonitis required oxygen support. Radiology showed a pattern of interstitial pneumonitis in most patients. All the patients responded to steroids and follow-up imaging showed resolution of infiltrates. The median duration of hospital stay was 8.5 days (7–18 days). There was no mortality due to this condition. Conclusions: Drug-induced lung injury should be considered in patients presenting with respiratory symptoms after administration of docetaxel. Timely initiation of steroids could reduce complications.

Docetaxel-Induced Interstitial Pneumonitis Detected on 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT

ABSTRACT

68Ga-PSMA PET/CT is a commonly performed procedure in the staging of intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer after biochemical recurrence. Uptake of 68Ga-PSMA in benign conditions is also reported in the literature. Docetaxel is the mainstay of treatment in high-volume hormone-sensitive prostate cancer and castration-resistant prostate cancer. The major treatment-emergent adverse drug reactions attributed to docetaxel include myelosuppression, alopecia, and asthenia. Interstitial pneumonitis is seen in less than 2% of docetaxel-treated patients. We present a case of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, wherein docetaxel-induced interstitial pneumonitis was detected on 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT, after docetaxel treatment.

Drug-induced Interstitial Lung Disease in Breast Cancer Patients: A Lesson We Should Learn From Multi-Disciplinary Integration

Abstract Taxanes represented by paclitaxel and targeted therapy including trastuzumab are two common agents for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2)-positive breast cancer patients. Effectiveness, however, usually comes at the cost of many side effects, some of which are even fatal. Drug-induced interstitial lung diseases (DILDs) comprise a group of drug-induced pulmonary injuries usually caused by using these medications. For DILDs, systemic therapy can be harmful to lung tissues and rapidly threaten the lives of some breast cancer patients. Through the cases from our hospital and related studies in medical databases, we hope readers can learn a lesson from an angle of multi-disciplinary integration based on clinical practice and pharmacological mechanisms to make anti-cancer agents less harmful and reduce the incidence of DILD in breast cancer patients during systemic therapy.

Bronchoalveolar lavage as a diagnostic procedure: a review of known cellular and molecular findings in various lung diseases

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a commonly used procedure in the evaluation of lung disease as it allows for sampling of the lower respiratory tract. In many circumstances, BAL differential cell counts have been reported to be typical of specific lung disorders. In addition, more specific diagnostic tests including molecular assays such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, special cytopathologic stains, or particular microscopic findings have been described as part of BAL fluid analysis. This review focuses on common cellular and molecular findings of BAL in a wide range of lung diseases. Since the performance of the first lung irrigation in 1927, BAL has become a common and important diagnostic tool. While some pulmonary disorders have a highly characteristic signature of BAL findings, BAL results alone often lack specificity and require interpretation along with other clinical and radiographic details. Development of new diagnostic assays is certain to reinforce the utility of BAL in the future. Our review of the BAL literature is intended to serve as a resource to assist clinicians in the care of patients with lung disorders.

Pulmonary toxicity of systemic lung cancer therapy

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. As new therapies are developed, it is important to understand the pulmonary toxicities associated with systemic lung cancer therapies. Cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens for NSCLC often include taxanes. Pulmonary toxicity from taxanes presents as an ILD-type reaction characterized by increasing dyspnoea, dry cough, fever and bilateral pulmonary interstitial infiltrates. The incidence of taxane-induced pneumonitis is rare, and many patients respond to steroid therapy; however, fatal cases have been reported. Patients with NSCLC are routinely tested for the presence of tumour oncogenes to determine their candidacy for targeted therapies, such as TKI. EGFR-TKI can cause pneumonitis characterized by progressive dyspnoea and hypoxia. EGFR-TKI-associated ILD rarely presents as an AIP with rapidly progressive respiratory failure and high mortality rates. The most recent development in lung cancer therapy has been the discovery of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). ICI pneumonitis has been increasingly recognized as a common complication of ICI therapy, with reported incidence as high as 19% in some clinical settings. Early-grade ICI pneumonitis may be asymptomatic; however, high-grade ICI pneumonitis can result in progressive dyspnoea, hypoxia and respiratory failure. ICI pneumonitis is unique in that only half of the patients will improve with steroid treatment, and mortality rates are high. As treatment of NSCLC evolves, providers must be able to recognize and respond to the development of drug-induced pulmonary toxicities.

Bevacizumab-Induced Pneumonitis in a Patient With Metastatic Colon Cancer: A Case Report

Bevacizumab is a vascular endothelial growth factor–directed humanized monoclonal antibody used to treat many types of cancer and some eye diseases. Due to inhibition of angiogenesis, many adverse reactions such as bowel necrosis, nasal septal perforation, and renal thrombotic microangiopathy have been described. However, its association with interstitial pneumonitis is scarcely reported in the literature. We report a case of a 79-year-old woman with metastatic colon cancer who presented with cough and dyspnea on exertion the day after initiation of bevacizumab. She was found to have bilateral airspace opacities on imaging. Infectious and cardiogenic etiologies of dyspnea were ruled out. Due to the temporal relationship with the initiation of chemotherapy, she was suspected to have developed bevacizumab-induced interstitial pneumonitis. She improved rapidly with high-dose steroids. Follow-up imaging showed resolution of infiltrates. This is the first reported case in the literature that directly links bevacizumab to interstitial pneumonitis.

Synchronous versus sequential chemo-radiotherapy in patients with early stage breast cancer (SECRAB): A randomised, phase III, trial

BACKGROUND

The optimal sequence of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy for breast cancer is unknown. SECRAB assesses whether local control can be improved without increased toxicity.

METHODS

SECRAB was a prospective, open-label, multi-centre, phase III trial comparing synchronous to sequential chemo-radiotherapy, conducted in 48 UK centres. Patients with invasive, early stage breast cancer were eligible. Randomisation (performed using random permuted block assignment) was stratified by centre, axillary surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy boost. Permitted chemotherapy regimens included CMF and anthracycline-CMF. Synchronous radiotherapy was administered between cycles two and three for CMF or five and six for anthracycline-CMF. Sequential radiotherapy was delivered on chemotherapy completion. Radiotherapy schedules included 40 Gy/15F over three weeks, and 50 Gy/25F over five weeks. The primary outcome was local recurrence at five and ten years, defined as time to local recurrence, and analysed by intention to treat. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00003893.

FINDINGS

Between 02-July-1998 and 25-March-2004, 2297 patients were recruited (1150 synchronous and 1146 sequential). Baseline characteristics were balanced. With 10.2 years median follow-up, the ten-year local recurrence rates were 4.6% and 7.1% in the synchronous and sequential arms respectively (hazard ratio (HR) 0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43-0.90; p = 0.012). In a planned sub-group analysis of anthracycline-CMF, the ten-year local recurrence rates difference were 3.5% versus 6.7% respectively (HR 0.48 95% CI: 0.26-0.88; p = 0.018). There was no significant difference in overall or disease-free survival. 24% of patients on the synchronous arm suffered moderate/severe acute skin reactions compared to 15% on the sequential arm (p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in late adverse effects apart from telangiectasia (p = 0.03).

INTERPRETATION

Synchronous chemo-radiotherapy significantly improved local recurrence rates. This was delivered with an acceptable increase in acute toxicity. The greatest benefit of synchronous chemo-radiation was in patients treated with anthracycline-CMF.

FUNDING

Cancer Research UK (CR UK/98/001) and Pharmacia.

Complications and Toxicities Associated with Cancer Therapies in the Intensive Care Unit

Advances in the management of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors have given rise to diverse modalities to treat cancer other than cytotoxic chemotherapy, including targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and cellular therapies. Currently, there are over 175 FDA-approved antineoplastic agents in the United States, many with a diverse and profound toxicity profile. Complications of antineoplastic therapy may result in the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission to provide acute symptom management. Accordingly, ICU providers caring for cancer patients should have a working knowledge of the toxicities and complications associated with antineoplastic therapy.

Fatal Interstitial Pneumonitis Associated with Docetaxel Administration in a Patient with Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer

Taxanes are widely used chemotherapeutic agents with the potential to induce pulmonary injury through a variety of mechanisms. Patients receiving these agents are at risk of acute or subacute pulmonary damage. The case is presented of a 72-year-old man with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and weekly administration of 30 mg/m2 docetaxel who developed subacute interstitial pneumonitis-related pulmonary fibrosis after seven doses and died despite mechanical ventilation and high-dose corticosteroid treatment. Even though only a few cases of this adverse event have been reported in the literature, severe docetaxel-induced pulmonary toxicity needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis when such patients present with respiratory symptoms.

Anticancer therapy and lung injury: molecular mechanisms

INTRODUCTION

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are two mainstream strategies applied in the treatment of cancer that is not operable. Patients with hematological or solid tumor malignancies substantially benefit from chemotherapeutic drugs and/or ionizing radiation delivered to the site of malignancy. However, considerable adverse effects, including lung inflammation and fibrosis, are associated with the use of these treatment modalities. Areas covered: As we move toward the era of precision health, we are compelled to understand the molecular basis of chemoradiation-induced pathological lung remodeling and to develop effective treatment strategies that mitigate the development of chronic lung disease (i.e. fibrosis) in cancer patients. The review discusses chemotherapeutic agents that are reported to induce or associate with acute and/or chronic lung injury. Expert commentary: There is a need to molecularly understand how chemotherapeutic drugs induce or associate with respiratory toxicities and whether such characteristics are inherently related to their antitumor effect or are collateral. Once such mechanisms have been identified and/or fully characterized, they may be able to guide disease-management decisions including effective intervention strategies for the adverse effects. In the meantime, radiation oncologists should be judicious on the dose of radiation delivered to the lungs, the volume of lung irradiated, and concurrent use of chemotherapeutic drugs.

Fatal hypersensitivity pneumonitis associated with docetaxel

We present a patient with advanced breast cancer treated with three cycles of docetaxel who developed repeated episodes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, progressed to respiratory failure and death despite treatment with corticosteroids and supportive care. Docetaxel-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis was diagnosed by excluding infection and tumor spread with bronchoalveolar lavage and lung biopsy. Physicians should consider such a condition in all patients who present with interstitial pneumonitis and respiratory failure when they are receiving docetaxel and treat them aggressively with steroids and supportive care, as it can be fatal.

PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies efficacy and safety versus docetaxel monotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients after first-line treatment option: systems assessment

Meta-analysis was conducted to systematically assess the effectiveness and safety of programmed cell death protein-1 or ligand-1 (PD-1 or PD-L1) antibodies versus docetaxel alone in advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In addition, the prognostic significance of PD-L1 expression in advanced NSCLC was also investigated. 5 eligible studies including 3579 patients were identified through comprehensive search of multiple databases. The results showed that pooled hazard ratios (HR) for overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were 0.69 (95% CI: 0.63-0.75; p < 0.001) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.80-0.94; p < 0.001), between PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies and docetaxel treatment arms, respectively. The pooled relative risk (RR) value for objective response rate (ORR) was 1.53, (95% CI: 1.16-2.01, p = 0.003). Further, subgroup analysis based on PD-L1 expression indicated that pooled HR for OS was significant with 0.66(95% CI: 0.59-0.74, p < 0.001) for PD-L1≥1%. However, PD-L1 < 1% had HR value of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.67-0.93, p = 0.006). Our study concluded that advanced NSCLC patients benefited more with PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies than docetaxel in the second line treatment. PD-L1≥10% in tumor tissues is sufficient to show significant improvement in patient's outcome with PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies compared to docetaxel. Moreover, PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies treatment showed significant decrease in conventional chemotherapy adverse events, but increased immune-associated adverse effects.

Comorbidities in the management of patients with lung cancer

Lung cancer represents a major public health issue worldwide. Unfortunately, more than half of them are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Moreover, even if diagnosed early, diagnosis procedures and treatment can be difficult due to the frequent comorbidities observed in these patients. Some of these comorbidities have a common major risk factor, i.e. smoking, whereas others are unrelated to smoking but frequently observed in the general population. These comorbidities must be carefully assessed before any diagnostic and/or therapeutic decisions are made regarding the lung cancer. For example, in a patient with severe emphysema or with diffuse lung fibrosis, transthoracic needle biopsy can be contraindicated, meaning that in some instances a precise diagnosis cannot be obtained; in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, surgery may be impossible or should be preceded by intensive rehabilitation; patients with interstitial lung disease are at risk of radiation pneumonitis and should not receive drugs which can worsen the respiratory insufficiency. Patients who belong to what are called "special populations", e.g. elderly or HIV infected, should be treated specifically, especially regarding systemic treatment. Last but not least, psychosocial factors are of great importance and can vary from one country to another according to health insurance coverage.

The ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT statement "IPF by HRCT" could predict acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease in non-small cell lung cancer

INTRODUCTION

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) are at high risk of acute exacerbation of ILD (AE-ILD) when treated with systemic chemotherapy. Standard treatment for NSCLC complicated by ILD has not been established.

PURPOSE AND METHODS

To examine whether the type of ILD categorized by the official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT statement as "idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT)" could predict chemotherapy-induced AE-ILD in NSCLC patients with ILD, we retrospectively reviewed all patients with NSCLC complicated by ILD who had received chemotherapy at our institute from January 2007 until December 2013. Patients' characteristics, pathology and clinical staging of lung cancer, chemotherapy, type of ILD and AE-ILD during chemotherapy were evaluated. ILD was classified according to the statement as follows: usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), possible UIP, and inconsistent with a UIP pattern.

RESULTS

A total of 46 patients had pre-existing ILD and received chemotherapy. The mean age was 73 years (range 46-83 years). Fifteen (32.6%) of 46 patients with ILD developed chemotherapy-induced AE-ILD, which was seen more frequently in patients with ILD with a UIP pattern or possible UIP pattern than in patients with a pattern inconsistent with UIP (80% versus 9.7%, p&lt;0.001). Multivariate analyses including age, sex, performance status and radiographic patterns of ILD showed that the presence of a UIP or possible UIP pattern was an independent risk factor for chemotherapy-induced AE-ILD.

CONCLUSIONS

ILD with a UIP pattern or possible UIP pattern by the classification could be a risk factor for AE-ILD in NSCLC patients with ILD.

Docetaxel-related interstitial pneumonitis

Docetaxel (Taxotere^®) is an agent that is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. In recent years, docetaxel-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) has been reported in several case series studies. The onset of ILD occurred ~10–20 days (median time: 18 days) after docetaxel administration. Here, we reported the case of a patient who had pulmonary toxicity of ILD within 3 days after using a relatively low-dose docetaxel administration. Although some articles have described patients who progressed to respiratory failure and needed intubation, this patient responded well to steroid treatment and discontinued docetaxel administration.

A commentary on interstitial pneumonitis induced by docetaxel: clinical cases and systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary toxicity is a well-known complication observed with several anticancer drugs. Docetaxel, a taxane chemotherapy drug widely used in the treatment of many types of solid tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), rarely causes infiltrative pneumonitis. The exact mechanism by which docetaxel develops this side effect is not well understood; probably it is produced by type I and IV hypersensitivity responses. Here we describe 2 cases of infiltrative pneumonitis induced by docetaxel as second-line chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two patients with advanced NSCLC were treated with weekly docetaxel as second-line chemotherapy. After 3 courses of chemotherapy, restaging computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed bilateral diffuse ground-glass opacities with a peribronchial distribution possibly indicative of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. No evidence of pulmonary embolus or pleural effusion was found. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed normal bronchi without lymphangitis; biopsies showed interstitial fibrosis without tumor cells. Bronchial tissue laboratory tests for fungi or bacilli were negative. No malignant cells were found at bronchoalveolar lavage. The patients were given high-dose corticosteroid therapy with prednisone 0.7 mg per kilogram per day.

RESULTS

After 1 month of therapy, contrast-enhanced chest CT showed complete disappearance of the pulmonary changes in both patients. Spirometry and blood gas analysis revealed complete recovery of pulmonary function. The patients continued their oncological follow-up program.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary injury is a rare adverse event during docetaxel chemotherapy. Prompt treatment with high-dose corticosteroids is needed to avoid worsening of respiratory performance.

Life-Threatening Pneumonitis Related to Docetaxel Chemotherapy

Development of pulmonary infiltrates with respiratory symptoms in patients with advanced cancer presents a diagnostic challenge. We describe a case of a patient who developed progressive respiratory failure and bilateral lung infiltrates whilst receiving docetaxel chemotherapy for advanced lung cancer. After excluding other aetiologies, he was treated for docetaxel-related pneumonitis with corticosteroid therapy. Interstitial pneumonitis is a rare complication of Docetaxel chemotherapy but needs to be recognised and treated early, as it is associated with high mortality rates. We describe the presentation, differential diagnoses and possible mechanisms associated with drug-related pneumonitis.

Postmastectomy radiotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is widely used in locally advanced breast cancer (BC) treatment. The role of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) after NAC is strongly debated. The aim of our analysis was to identify major prognostic factors in a single-center series, with emphasis on PMRT. From 1997 to 2011, 170 patients were treated with NAC and mastectomy at our center; 98 cases (57.6%) underwent PMRT and 72 cases (42.4%) did not receive radiation. At a median follow-up period of 7.7 years (range 2–16) for the whole cohort, median time to locoregional recurrence (LRR) was 3.3 years (range 0.7–12.4). The 5-year and 10-year actuarial LRR rate were 14.5% and 15.9%, respectively. At the multivariate analysis the factors that significantly correlated with survival outcome were ≥4 positive nodes (HR 5.0, 1.51–16.52; P = 0.035), extracapsular extension (HR 2.18, 1.37–3.46; P = 0.009), and estrogen receptor positive disease (HR 0.57, 0.36–0.90; P = 0.003). Concerning LRR according to use of radiation, PMRT reduced LRR for patient with clinical T3 staged disease (P = 0.015). Our experience confirmed the impact of pathological nodal involvement on survival outcome. PMRT was found to improve local control in patients presenting with clinical T3 tumors, regardless of the response to chemotherapy.

Nonplatinum therapy in advanced bladder cancer

Carcinoma of the bladder is the second most prevalent genitourinary malignancy and the fifth most common solid malignancy in the USA. Combination chemotherapy is used in most patients with advanced disease. Traditionally, on the basis of favorable response rates and survival data, cisplatin-based regimens have been the preferred chemotherapy for patients with metastatic bladder cancer. However, the toxicity profile of cisplatin precludes its use in a significant subset of patients with advanced bladder cancer. Conversely, noncisplatin-containing regimens have been shown to have a more favorable toxicity profile and to have activity in advanced bladder cancer. Here, various nonplatinum chemotherapy regimens for advanced disease are reviewed.

Ground-glass opacity in lung metastasis from breast cancer: a case report

A 43-year-old woman with breast cancer who was on neoadjuvant chemotherapy presented with cough, sputum and mild fever. High-resolution computed tomography showed diffuse ground glass opacities in bilateral lungs and subpleural patchy consolidations. Initially, she was thought to have pneumonia or interstitial lung diseases such as drug-induced pneumonitis and treated with antibiotics and steroids. She subsequently got breast cancer surgery because of disease progression, and concurrent thoracoscopic lung biopsy revealed metastatic carcinoma of the lung from breast cancer. The diagnosis of suspected interstitial lung disease can be made without lung biopsy, but malignancy should always be considered and lung biopsy should be performed in the absence of a definitive clinical diagnosis.

Pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis in a patient receiving adjuvant docetaxel and cyclophosphamide for stage 3 breast cancer: a case report and literature review

Introduction

Pulmonary toxicities associated with chemotherapeutic agents utilized as adjuvant therapy in patients with breast cancer are distinctly uncommon. The chemotherapy regimen of docetaxel/cyclophosphamide has a more favorable therapeutic index compared to anthracycline-based regimens due to a significantly lower incidence of heart failure and leukemia. Consequently, docetaxel/cyclophosphamide is the preferred adjuvant chemotherapy of choice in older women or in women where anthracyclines may be contraindicated. Pulmonary complications in patients with breast cancer receiving taxane-based adjuvant chemotherapy in the absence of radiation are distinctly uncommon. Here, we report the case of a patient receiving adjuvant docetaxel/cyclophosphamide who developed rapid-onset, biopsy-proven interstitial pneumonitis.

Case presentation

A 72-year-old Hispanic woman was diagnosed as having stage 3 hormone-receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu negative, invasive breast cancer. Due to the estimated 10-year risk of recurrence of approximately 80 percent, a decision was made to treat our patient with adjuvant chemotherapy. Due to her age and increased risk of cardiac toxicity with anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens, our patient was treated with docetaxel/cyclophosphamide chemotherapy for a total of four planned cycles. However, approximately two weeks after receiving the third cycle of chemotherapy, our patient developed rapidly progressive dyspnea, and a non-productive cough and went to the emergency room at an outside medical facility. She was found to have mild hypoxemia, and new onset of peripheral, subpleural fibrotic changes not present on pre-treatment scans. A thorascopic-guided wedge biopsy of the lung tissue revealed subacute interstitial pneumonitis. Our patient made a rapid clinical recovery after treatment with corticosteroids.

Conclusions

Interstitial pneumonitis is a rare complication of docetaxel/cyclophosphamide chemotherapy that carries a high mortality rate. The only way to make a definitive diagnosis is with a wedge biopsy of the lung, which should be performed when feasible. Our patient’s case illustrates that no therapeutic intervention is without its intrinsic and unanticipated risks, and interstitial pneumonitis should be discussed as a potential side effect with all patients prior to administering docetaxel/cyclophosphamide chemotherapy.

New-onset acute interstitial lung disease after treatment with erlotinib in a patient with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

Erlotinib is a Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Type 1/tyrosine kinase (EGFR) inhibitor, which is used for non-small-cell lung cancer treatment. Erlotinib usually has a favorable safety profile however; adverse events such as interstitial lung disease (ILD) have been reported in pivotal studies. ILD usually occurs weeks to months after initiating therapy with Erlotinib. We report a case of Erlotinib induced ILD presenting within 5 days of initiating treatment with Erlotinib.

Docetaxel-induced fatal interstitial pneumonitis in a patient with castration-resistant prostate cancer

A 69-year-old man with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) received docetaxel and a corticosteroid. After the third cycle of docetaxel administration, he presented with dyspnea, cough, sputum, and fever of 39.2℃. The chest X-ray and chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a diffuse reticulonodular shadow in both lungs, which suggested interstitial pneumonitis. Initially, we used empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics and high-dose corticosteroids. However, his condition progressively became worse and he was transferred to the intensive care unit, intubated, and placed on mechanical ventilation. He died 4 days after hospital admission. Here we report this case of fatal interstitial pneumonitis after treatment with docetaxel for CRPC. We briefly consider docetaxel-induced pneumonitis to make physicians aware of the possibility of pulmonary toxicity so that appropriate treatment can be begun as soon as possible.

Predictive factors for radiation pneumonitis in oesophageal cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy without prophylactic nodal irradiation

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to identify clinical and dosimetric factors for the development of radiation pneumonitis (RP) among patients with oesophageal cancer treated with three-dimensional radiotherapy without prophylactic nodal irradiation.

METHODS

125 patients with oesophageal cancer had undergone dose-volume histogram (DVH) metrics and received chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Several clinical and dosimetric factors with regard to the lung were evaluated as predictive factors for the development of symptomatic RP.

RESULTS

26 patients (20.8%) developed symptomatic RP classified as greater than or equal to Grade 2. By univariate analysis, body weight loss, tumour length, Stage IV, response to treatment and all DVH parameters proved to be significant factors for the development of RP (p < 0.05). By multivariate analysis, Stage IV and all dosimetric factors were independent predictive factors for the development of symptomatic RP (p < 0.05). Recursive partitioning analysis indicated that V10 values of 24.8% or more and Stage IV were associated with higher development of RP (odds ratio 6.53).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that severe RP was also developed in patients treated with the minimal radiation field. Stage IV and the dosimetric factors were identified as independent predictive factors for symptomatic RP in oesophageal cancer patients treated with CRT without prophylactic nodal irradiation.

Chemotherapy-induced infiltrative pneumonitis cases in breast cancer patients

A number of chemotherapy drugs are well known to cause various histopathologic patterns of lung injury. The incidence of chemotherapy-induced infiltrative pneumonitis is rare and the diagnosis is difficult due to the nonspecific clinical and radiological presentations. However, it can cause significant morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. There is no consensus on the treatment of this adverse event, but prompt diagnosis and intervention is important as fatal outcomes have been reported. We present five cases of chemotherapy-induced infiltrative pneumonitis in breast cancer patients involving docetaxel, paclitaxel, gemcitabine and cyclophosphamide.

The risk of cytotoxic chemotherapy-related exacerbation of interstitial lung disease with lung cancer

INTRODUCTION

It is unknown what type of interstitial lung disease (ILD) has high risk for chemotherapy-related exacerbation of ILD. We investigated the risk of exacerbation of ILD for patients with lung cancer with ILD.

METHODS

One hundred nine patients with lung cancer with ILD treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy at Shizuoka Cancer Center between August 2002 and April 2010 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

On pretreatment computed tomography (CT) of the chest, 69 patients (63%) were identified with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern, and 40 patients (37%) had non-UIP pattern. Patients with UIP pattern developed cytotoxic chemotherapy-related exacerbation of ILD more frequently than those with non-UIP pattern (30 versus 8%, p = 0.005). The incidence of grade 5 pulmonary toxicities was 9% in patients with UIP pattern, compared with 3% in those with non-UIP pattern. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that age (<70 years) and CT pattern (UIP) were significant independent risk factors for cytotoxic chemotherapy-related exacerbation of ILD. In small cell lung cancer, overall survival (OS) from the start of first-line chemotherapy was significantly shorter in UIP pattern than non-UIP pattern (median OS: 9 versus 16 months, p = 0.0475), whereas there was no significant difference in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (median OS: 12 versus 9 months, p = 0.2529).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that the incidence of exacerbation of ILD was significantly higher in patients with lung cancer with UIP pattern on CT findings than in those with non-UIP pattern. Therefore, great care is required when administering cytotoxic chemotherapy agents for patients with lung cancer with UIP pattern.

Feasibility of tri-weekly docetaxel-based chemotherapy for elderly patients (age 75 and older) with castration-resistant prostate cancer

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel-based chemotherapy for elderly metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients aged 75 or higher.

METHODS

Twenty CRPC patients aged 75 or higher (older group) and 31 CRPC patients younger than 75 years (younger group) were treated by a regimen of docetaxel (70 mg/m(2)) once every 3 weeks. Adjustment for docetaxel dosage and period per cycle was subject to investigator's judgment.

RESULTS

The median relative dose intensity of both groups was 0.84, while the median dose intensity and the number of treatment cycles of the younger and older groups were 14.6 versus 12.3 mg/m(2)/week (p = 0.021), and 9 versus 8 cycles (p = 0.15), respectively. In the older group, PSA response rate was 50%, median time to biochemical progression was 7.5 months, and median survival time was 15.5 months, without any significant difference compared to those of the younger group. No significant difference in the incidence of grade 3-4 adverse events was noted between both groups. All these parameters for efficacy are comparable to those reported for tri-weekly docetaxel regimen.

CONCLUSIONS

Tri-weekly treatment by docetaxel (70 mg/m(2)) with proper adjustment might contribute to maintaining efficacy and safety of the treatment for elderly CRPC patients.

Pulmonary toxicity related to systemic treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer

Physicians who are responsible for the delivery of systemic treatment in lung cancer should be aware of the potential risk of drug-induced pulmonary toxicity (DIPT), because such toxicity may develop in the context of a multifactorial clinical condition. First, most patients with lung cancer may suffer from other non-neoplastic, smoking-related lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic obstructive lung disease, which may generate pathologic changes in lung parenchyma. In addition, lung cancer itself may worsen the respiratory function, inducing atelectasis and lymphangitic carcinomatosis. The superimposed iatrogenic damage may lead to respiratory failure and, sometimes, death. The risk of DIPT from chemotherapeutic agents has been widely examined in the past; and, currently, the potential for lung toxicity has been extended by the introduction of molecular targeted therapies. Because there are no univocal criteria with which to recognize DIPT, the diagnosis often is made by exclusion; consequently, it is hard to establish an early diagnosis. The objective of this review was to describe the major DIPTs associated with antineoplastic agents against nonsmall cell lung cancer to help physicians with this difficult diagnostic challenge.

Docetaxel-prednisolone combination therapy for Japanese patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer: a single institution experience

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel plus prednisolone treatment in Japanese patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).

METHODS

From April 2004 through August 2008, we used docetaxel plus prednisolone to treat 55 HRPC patients (median age, 72 years). Eighteen patients (32.7%) had measurable soft tissue lesions, whereas 52 patients (94.5%) had bone metastases. During the 21-day treatment cycle, docetaxel (70 mg/m(2)) was administered once every 21 days and oral prednisolone (5 mg), twice daily. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, defined as a reduction of at least 50% in the baseline levels for 4 weeks, was evaluated.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 30.1 months; median overall survival, 15.3 months and median progression-free survival, 7.5 months. During follow-up, 37 patients (67.3%) achieved the PSA response, and 5 of 18 (27.8%) patients with measurable disease showed a partial response. Among the 27 patients who experienced cancer pain before treatment initiation, 15 (55.5%) reduced their analgesic drug intake. Multivariate analysis of the prognostic variables revealed a significant association between the overall survival and pain (P = 0.033). Hematological toxicity (grades 3-4) included neutropenia (87.3%), febrile neutropenia (25.5%) and thrombocytopenia (5.5%). Frequent non-hematological adverse events were general edema (52.7%), general fatigue (32.7%) and sensory neuropathy (30.9%). Three patients died of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

CONCLUSION

Docetaxel plus prednisolone treatment is effective in Japanese HRPC patients. The main toxicity is neutropenia, which can be safely controlled by outpatient treatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. However, the Japanese patients in our study developed ARDS more frequently than other patients in previous studies did.

Severe interstitial pneumonitis associated with the administration of taxanes

Interstitial pneumonitis has sporadically been reported as a toxic effect of taxanes such as docetaxel and paclitaxel. This report describes 2 patients who developed interstitial pneumonitis after receiving chemotherapy including taxanes, and both cases grew serious enough to require respiratory support. The first case was a 57-year-old man with gastric cancer treated with docetaxel biweekly and S-1 for 2 weeks as adjuvant chemotherapy. After 4 courses of docetaxel, he presented acute dyspnea. The second case was a 66-year-old woman with breast cancer and postoperative pleural recurrence treated with weekly paclitaxel as fourth-line chemotherapy. She developed a dry cough, high fever, and dyspnea after 1 course of paclitaxel. In both cases, computed tomography (CT) showed extensive bilateral areas of ground-glass attenuation. They developed progressive interstitial infiltrates and respiratory failure that required mechanical ventilation. Taxane-induced interstitial pneumonitis was diagnosed to exclude other causes. From previous reports, intubation is associated with the survival of patients with taxane-induced interstitial pneumonitis. However, corticosteroid therapy was dramatically effective and resolved the interstitial pneumonitis in both our patients. Clinicians should be aware of this occasional complication during the course of chemotherapy with taxanes and initiate treatment, including respiratory support, as soon as possible.