Preexisting Interstitial Lung Disease and Lung Injury Associated with Irinotecan in Patients with Neoplasms.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to reveal risk factors for lung injury following irinotecan administration for the treatment of neoplasms.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

This study included 204 patients who received irinotecan from October 2005 to November 2014 and had evaluable chest CT images before initiation of irinotecan.

RESULTS

Six (2.9%) patients developed lung injury and, of these, 2 had preexisting interstitial lung disease (pre-ILD). The frequency of lung injury in patients with pre-ILD was 11% (2 of 19) while that in patients without pre-ILD was 2.2%. Risk factor analysis for the lung injury showed pre-ILD was the most predictable factor [odds ratio (OR) 5.00, p=0.07]. Combination with other agents, origin of neoplasms (lung or not), initial dose or minimum interval were not observed to be related to risk.

CONCLUSION

The risk of lung injury with irinotecan was high when pre-ILD was present and the risk was comparable with previously reported other agents.