Interstitial lung disease in advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients treated with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel combination therapy: a retrospective analysis

A Systemic Review and Meta-analysis of the Incidence Rate of Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients with Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer Treated with Gemcitabine and Nab-paclitaxel Combination Therapy in the Japanese Population

Background Drug-induced interstitial lung disease (DI-ILD) is an adverse effect of the combination of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (GnP) treatment that has raised concerns because the incidence rate of DI-ILD in the real world is higher than that reported in initial clinical trials. The present study assessed the cumulative incidence rate of DI-ILD among patients treated with GnP based on previously published studies and explored any potential bias in the results. Methods We conducted a meta-analysis in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from 2013 to 2024, using specific keywords. Randomized controlled trials, prospective studies, retrospective studies, and case-control studies that reported the incidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) among patients treated with GnP were included. Two reviewers independently extracted the data from the included studies. Results Nine studies involving 1,980 patients were included in this analysis. Nine studies were conducted in Japan. The pooled incidence of DI-ILD was 5.9%. A subgroup analysis revealed that smaller studies reported higher incidence rates (≤200 vs. ≥201 cases: 9.4% vs. 4.1%). There was significant heterogeneity and publication bias, suggesting that the variability in incidence rates was due to the study size and potential biases. Conclusion The pooled incidence of ILD among patients treated with GnP was 5.9%. However, the results should be interpreted with caution because of the heterogeneity and publication bias. Further global studies are required to determine the true incidence of ILD.

Treatment rechallenge is safe and leads to better survival in pancreatic cancer patients with interstitial pneumonitis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Interstitial pneumonitis is a potentially fatal complication of cancer-related therapy. However, data regarding the risk factors, prognosis and safety and benefit of rechallenge treatment are scarce.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer were retrospectively enrolled, and those with pneumonitis were identified. We investigated the incidence and etiology of pneumonitis, potential risk factors, and impact of treatment rechallenge on clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 809 patients were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, among whom 62 (7.7%) were diagnosed with interstitial pneumonitis. Risk factors identified through competing risk analysis included nab-paclitaxel, gemcitabine, erlotinib, and previous lung diseases such as pre-existing ILD, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, primary lung cancer, metastasis, or pneumonia. Among these patients, 33 experienced acute respiratory distress syndrome, resulting in 15 deaths during pneumonitis episodes. After rechallenge therapy in 33 patients, pneumonitis recurred in 3 (9%). The median overall survival was longer in patients with pneumonitis than in those without. Subgroup analysis further revealed that overall survival was significantly better in the rechallenge group.

CONCLUSIONS

Most cases of pneumonitis are not directly induced by cancer therapy. Therefore, treatment rechallenge is considered a reasonable approach, potentially resulting in improved survival outcomes.

Clinical benefit of subsequent chemotherapy after drug-induced interstitial lung disease in pancreatic cancer patients: a multicenter retrospective study from Japan

PURPOSE

Drug-induced interstitial lung disease (ILD) is not a rare adverse event in the current chemotherapy strategy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Thus, we aimed to find the optimal management for PDAC patients with a history of ILD induced by a gemcitabine-based regimen.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter retrospective study. The primary endpoint was the overall survival (OS) of patients who underwent either S-1 monotherapy or FOLFOX after the onset of ILD. Toxicity data was also analyzed in the 2 groups.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients were diagnosed with ILD and 17 patients who received subsequent chemotherapy were enrolled in the study. Among 17 patients who were managed with subsequent chemotherapy after recovering from ILD, we did not observe significant difference in OS between S-1 and FOLFOX (290.0 days vs. undefined, p = 0.39). Relapse of drug-induced ILD was not observed in all cases during the course. Overall, severe adverse events (CTCAE Grade 3 or 4) were observed in 3 patients (23.1%) in S-1 treatment group and 1 patient (25.0%) in FOLFOX treatment group (p = 0.93).

CONCLUSIONS

S-1 monotherapy and FOLFOX are comparable as the subsequent chemotherapy after gemcitabine-based chemotherapy-induced ILD in unresectable PDAC.

Risk factors for interstitial lung disease induced by gemcitabine plus albumin-bound paclitaxel therapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients

Background

Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP) therapy is used for unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, but may cause interstitial lung disease (ILD) as a serious side effect. However, the risk factors for ILD in patients receiving GnP therapy are not well established. Here, we retrospectively investigated the incidence of GnP-induced ILD in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients, and the risk factors.

Methods

We investigated the patients’ background, laboratory data, previous treatment history, concomitant medications, number of doses of GnP, cumulative dosage and administration period, and occurrence of side effects.

Results

Of the 105 patients included in this study, ILD occurred in 10 (9.5%). Patients with ILD had a significantly higher frequency of concomitant treatment with Kampo medicines, especially goshajinkigan, which is considered to help prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) (odds ratio: 11.5, 95% confidence interval: 2.67–49.38). No significant differences were observed in other clinical characteristics. Notably, the severity of CIPN in patients who used goshajinkigan for prevention was not significantly different from that in patients who did not use goshajinkigan in this study.

Conclusions

These results suggest that administration of goshajinkigan to patients receiving GnP therapy for prevention of CIPN may need to be reconsidered.

Risk factors for gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel-induced interstitial lung disease in pancreatic cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Drug-induced interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most serious adverse events with a high mortality rate and represents a serious clinical problem. However, gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP)-induced ILD in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, we conducted this study to examine the clinical characteristics of GnP-induced ILD and identify risk factors for developing ILD.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated consecutive patients with PC who received GnP between January 2015 and April 2020. We compared the clinical characteristics and overall survival (OS) according to ILD occurrence and explored risk factors including ABO blood type for developing ILD.

RESULTS

Of the 910 patients included in this study, ILD occurred in 20 patients (2.2%). PC patients who developed ILD had a significantly higher frequency of blood type B compared to those without ILD (42% vs. 22%, p ˂ 0.05). Other baseline characteristics including smoking history and current/previous lung disease were not different between the two groups. Median time from initiation of GnP to onset of ILD was 80 days. All patients recovered from ILD and OS was not significantly different according to ILD occurrence. Multivariate analysis revealed that blood type B was an independent risk factor for developing ILD.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that GnP-induced ILD occurred in 2.2% of PC patients with no mortality and OS did not differ according to ILD occurrence. Furthermore, we clarified that ABO blood type B was an independent risk factor for developing ILD in PC patients receiving GnP.