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Gefitinib is effective for pathological fracture of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer

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Abstract

We present a 67-year-old woman with advanced-stage lung adenocarcinoma (T2N3M1, Stage IV). Palliative surgery with an intramedullary nail was performed for the sudden onset of a pathological fracture of the right proximal femur. Gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, administration without radiotherapy for 3 months led to remarkable recovery of the mineralization in the metastatic femoral lesion, in accordance with size reduction of the primary lung tumor. Her serum CEA level markedly decreased. She has remained alive during follow-up for 22 months after the surgery, and has suffered no adverse effects of gefitinib administration other than a skin rash and mild diarrhea. Oral gefitinib administration had an excellent effect on bone repair and mineralization for a pathological fracture of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahi-Machi, Abeno-Ku, Osaka, 545-8585, Japan

    Manabu Hoshi, Makoto Ieguchi & Kunio Takaoka

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yodogawa Christian Hospital, 2-9-26 Awaji, Higashi-yodogawa-ku, Osaka, 533-0032, Japan

    Masatsugu Takami

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  1. Manabu Hoshi
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  2. Masatsugu Takami
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  3. Makoto Ieguchi
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  4. Kunio Takaoka
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Correspondence to Manabu Hoshi.

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Hoshi, M., Takami, M., Ieguchi, M. et al. Gefitinib is effective for pathological fracture of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 19, 181–185 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-008-0406-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-008-0406-6

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