Successful treatment of gemcitabine-induced acute interstitial pneumonia with imatinib mesylate: a case report

BMC Cancer

Case Report

Lucia Garetto¹  Giovanni Grignani¹  Francesco Leone¹  Elisabetta Fenocchio¹  Danilo Galizia¹  Fabrizio Carnevale Schianca¹  Ilaria Depetris¹  Massimo Aglietta¹  Delia Campanella² 

[1] Department of Medical Oncology, University of Turin Medical School, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO, IRCCS, Str. Prov.le 142 Km 3.95, 10060, Candiolo, Turin, Italy;Radiology Department, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy;

关键词: Gemcitabine;    Pancreatic cancer;    Pulmonary toxicity;    Imatinib mesylate;    Treatment outcome;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12885-016-2833-9

 received in 2015-12-01, accepted in 2016-10-05,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundGemcitabine is currently the standard chemotherapy for the adjuvant treatment of pancreatic cancer. This chemotherapeutic agent is generally well-tolerated, myelosuppression and gastrointestinal toxicity being common side effects. Nevertheless, gemcitabine-induced pulmonary toxicity has been rarely reported. Despite its low incidence, the spectrum of pulmonary injury is wide, including potentially fatal conditions.We report a case of acute interstitial pneumonia related to gemcitabine, completely solved with Imatinib Mesylate (IM).Case presentationThe patient was a 69-year-old man, who developed a hypoxemic respiratory distress during adjuvant treatment with gemcitabine for stage IIA pancreatic cancer. The nonspecific diffuse alveolar involvement found on computed tomography (CT), together with the negative tests for infectious aetiology and the continuing severe respiratory failure despite a long course of broad-spectrum therapy, suggested gemcitabine-induced acute pneumonia as the most likely diagnosis.Thus, after the failure of steroids and all other conventional therapies, the patient was treated with imatinib mesylate on the basis of its activity in the management of graft-versus-host-induced lung fibrosis. A follow-up CT scan of chest one month later showed complete resolution of pneumonia.ConclusionDespite the low frequency of serious pulmonary toxicity, gemcitabine widespread use warns clinicians to consider this life-threatening toxicity. The favourable clinical outcome with IM treatment was remarkable, warranting additional study of IM in the treatment of lung fibrosis.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016