Abstract
Bevacizumab is a widely used agent for treatment for colorectal cancer. Though it relates to several adverse events, a few cases have been reported of drug-induced interstitial lung damage in bevacizumab-based chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of 72 patients with advanced colorectal cancer who received bevacizumab-based chemotherapy and identified five cases (6.9 %) who developed interstitial pneumonia (IP). The median age was 68 years, all five were male, and four of five patients were smokers. Three cases were asymptomatic, and they immediately recovered by withdrawal of chemotherapeutic drugs. On the other hand, two severe cases were required high-dose infusion of corticosteroid. It is suggested that early diagnosis of IP contributes to prevent exacerbation of the event and results in better outcomes. IP may have been associated with systemic chemotherapy, suggesting that a caution should be raised for pulmonary damage by bevacizumab-based chemotherapy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Giantonio BJ, Catalano PJ, Meropol NJ, O’Dwyer PJ, Mitchell EP, Alberts SR, et al. Bevacizumab in combination with oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin (FOLFOX4) for previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer: results from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study E3200. J Clin Oncol. 2007;25:1539–44.
Welch S, Spithoff K, Rumble RB, Maroun J. Bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancer: a systematic review. Ann Oncol. 2010;21:1152–62.
Prat A, Martínez P, Serrano C, Montero MA, Andreu J, Cortés J. Acute lung injury associated with docetaxel and bevacizumab. Clin Oncol. 2007;19:803–5.
Tamura J, Nakauchi M, Nakayama Y, Kitaguchi K, Sakikubo M, Ura K, et al. A case of interstitial pneumonitis induced by FOLFIRI+ bevacizumab combination therapy for liver and lung metastasis of colon cancer (in Japanese). Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2009;36:2665–8.
Nakagawa M, Hamada A, Yoshihara Y, Ishizaka T, Fukushima M, Takahashi N, et al. A case of interstitial lung diseases in patient treated with oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFOX) (in Japanese). Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2011;38:317–20.
Huobera J, Schochb O, Templetona A, Spiriga C, Thurlimann B. Interstitial pneumonitis after treatment with bevacizumab and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in a patient with metastatic breast cancer. Chemotherapy. 2010;56:69–70.
Usui K, Katou Y, Furushima K, Tanaka Y, Tanai C, Ishihara T. Interstitial lung disease during chemotherapy combined with oxaliplatin and/or bevacizumab in advanced colorectal cancer patients. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2011;41:498–502.
Kudoh S, Kato H, Nishiwaki Y, Fukuoka M, Nakata K, et al. Interstitial lung disease in Japanese patients with lung cancer. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008;177:1348–57.
Ferrara N. VEGF as a therapeutic target in cancer. Oncology. 2005;69:11–6.
Simler NR, Brenchley PE, Horrocks AW, Greaves SM, Hasleton PS, Egan JJ. Angiogenic cytokines in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. Thorax. 2004;59:581.
Thickett DR, Armstrong L, Millar AB. A role for vascular endothelial growth factor in acute and resolving lung injury. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002;166:1332–7.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tamura, S., Kusaba, H., Kubo, N. et al. Interstitial pneumonia during bevacizumab-based chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. Med Oncol 31, 856 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-014-0856-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-014-0856-0