Four Cases of Interstitial Lung Disease Induced by Erlotinib and A Review of the Literatures

Abstract

Erlotinib is an agent of oral epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors which are used for non-small cell lung cancer. Although this class of agents is considered to be relatively safe, the most serious, but rare, adverse reaction is drug-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD). ILD induced by gefitinib been often described, but the ILD induced by erlotinib is relatively less well known. We here describle four cases of ILD related to erlotinib and review recent literatures to help physicians earlier alert erlotinib-induced ILD. It is important to carefully monitor pulmonary symptoms in all patients who are receiving erlotinib. Early diagnosis and timely intervention is critical in the treatment of drug-induced ILD.

DOI: 10.3779/j.issn.1009-3419.2012.08.08