4. Chemoterapy-induced lung
toxicity: clinical clues
• Time course & high index of suspicion
• Not distinctive features; sometimes fever
• Subacute or even abrupt onset are possible
• X-ray lags behind clinical symptoms: CT
• Decreased DLCO: early marker & monitor
• Increased DLCO: diffuse alveolar bleeding
• Nonspecific imbalance of CD4/CD8 (BAL)
5. Chemotherapy-induced lung
toxicity: role of other factors
• Biological response modifiers
• Hormonal agents
• Other agents: www.pneumotox.com
• Interactions with radiotherapy
• Interactions in combination
chemotherapy
• Thoracic surgery following
chemotherapy
6. Chemotherapeutic agents used in lung cancer
that may cause acute pneumonitis
Cyclophosphamide
Docetaxel
Etoposide
Gemcitabine
Ifosfamide
Ipomeanol
Irinotecan
Methotrexate
Mitomycin
Paclitaxel
Procarbazine
Vinca alkaloids
8. Chemotherapeutic agents used in lung
cancer that may cause ADRS
Gemcitabine
Gefitinib
Methotrexate
Mitomycin
Paclitaxel
Vinca alkaloids + mitomycin
Roig J et al. Clin Pulm Med 2006; Inoue A. Lancet 2003
9. Chemotherapeutic agents used in lung
cancer that may cause pulmonary fibrosis
Cyclophosphamide
Etoposide
Methotrexate
Mitomycin
Nitrosureas
Roig J et al. Clin Pulm Med 2006
10. Chemotherapeutic agents used in lung
cancer that may cause pleural disease
Cyclophosphamide
Docetaxela
Doxorubicinb
Methotrexate
Mitomycin
Procarbazine
Vinblastine + mitomycin
Roig J et al. Clin Pulm Med 2006
a
Trasudative pleural effussion caused by fluid retention syndrome
b
Trasudative pleural effussion caused by congestive heart failure
11. Chemotherapeutic agents used in lung cancer
that may cause an hypersensitivity reaction with
respiratory symptoms
Roig J et al. Clin Pulm Med 2006
Docetaxel
Etoposide
Gemcitabine
Ifosfamide + mesna
Irinotecan
Methotrexate
Mitomycin
Paclitaxel
Procarbazine
Topotecan
Vinca alkaloids
12. Bronchial artery infusion in central
lung cancer and metastasis
Risk of massive hemoptysis
1 to 3 months after BAI
Herald: hemoptoic sputum
Need urgent arteriography
Bronchial vascular fistula
Rare esophageal ulceration
Bronchial esophageal fistula
Spinal cord damage
Osaki T. Chest 1999; Suzuki T. J Bronchol 2001
13. Neglected respiratory toxicity(1)
• Vincristine, procarbazine, cytarabine,
chlorambucil may cause neuropathy that
might affect respiratory muscle function
• Does it imply an increased anesthesia risk ?
• Risk of acute encephalopaty and respiratory
depression with ifosfamide, metothrexate in
SAS and advanced COPD with hypercapnic
failure
Aldrich T, Clin Chest Med 1990; Klein D, Can A Sc J
1983; Roig J, Clin Pulm Med 2006
14. Neglected respiratory toxicity(2)
• Some cases of intrathoracic extravasation
• Venous thromboembolism associated
with central venous lines and
subcutaneous ports
• Increased hypercoagulability of
concomitant therapies (erythropoietin,
megestrol acetate) and malignancy itself
Bozkurt AK.. Am J Clin Oncol 2003; Verso M. J Clin Oncol 2003; Biffi R.
Cancer 2001; Bauer K. J Clin Oncol 2000; Wun T. Cancer 2003, Bolen
J. A Am Med Dir Assoc 2000
15. Chemoterapy-induced lung
toxicity: prevention in COPD
• High-risk (30%) if nitrosureas are used
• Sleepness with ifosfamide, methotrexate
• More risk in “overlap”: COPD + SAS
• Water retention: taxotere,
ciclophosphamide
• Increased risk of O2 toxicity
• Sensorimotor neuropathy and interactions
17. Campothecin-induced lung toxicity
Agent Type Incidence Outcome
Topotecan
Irinotecan
(CPT-11)
Mild dyspnea
Dyspnea
Acute pneumonitis
<3%
< 22%
1-13%
Reversible
Maksymiuk A, Am J Clin Oncol 1998; Masuda N, J
Clin Oncol 1992;Takeda K, Br J Cancer 1999
18. Gemcitabine-induced lung toxicity
Clinical
presentation
Respiratory
features
Incidence Outcome
Acute Hypersensitivity
reaction
Acute
pneumonitis
Rarely ARDS,
PVODa
<1 % Usually
complete
recovery
except in
ARDS
a
Pulmonary venoocclusive disease
Proc ASCO 2000; Tempero MA. Cancer 1998; Marruchella A.
Eur Resp J 1998; Nackaerts KL. Ann Oncol 1998; Vansteenkiste J.
Lung Cancer 2001.
19. Mitomycine - induced lung toxicity
Clinical
presentation
Respiratory
features
Incidence Outcome
Acute
Chronic,
dose-related
(total dose
>30 mg/m2
)
Acute
pneumonitis
Very rarely
thrombotic
microangiopathy
with ARDS
3 % -12 % Fatality rate 40%
Increased risk if
combined therapy
with vinca alk.
Increased risk of
microangiopathy if
associated with
fluoruracil
(highest mortality)
Rivera MP. Am J Clin Oncol 1995, Linette DC. Ann Pharm
1992, Verweij J. Cancer 1987 Thompson C. South Med J 1992
A
20. Paclitaxel - induced lung toxicity
Clinical
presentation
Respiratory
features
Incidence Outcome
Acute Hypersensitivity
reaction
Acute pneum.
HR <1% if
pretreated
Rare if
dosage
<350mg/m2
Usually recovery
with mandatory
pretreatment
Risk of ARDS if
high dose
therapy or
concomitant
radiotherapy
Essayan DM. J Clin Oncol 1996; Bookman MA. Ann Oncol 1997
Ramanthan R. Chest 1996; Robert F. Semin Radiat Oncol 1999
21. Docetaxel - induced lung toxicity
Clinical
presentation
Respiratory
features
Incidence Outcome
Acute
Chronic
Acute
pneumonitis
Fluid
retention
syndrome
Very rare
Increased risk
of retention if
>400 mg/m2
Usually
complete
recovery
Etienne B. Rev Mal Respir 1998; Briasoulis E. Respiration 2000
22. DIFF. DIAGNOSIS: ALGORITHMIC APPROACH
Chest symptoms + abnormal X-ray
Clinical evaluation
Non-infectious
cause
Infection not
excluded
Appropriate
treatment
Non-invasive
work-up
Early
antibiotic
No impr. Improved
Continue AbInvasive proc.Keep Ab
+ -
24. HRCT in patients with dyspnea, fever
of unknown origin and normal X-ray
• Immunocompromise, severe emphysema
• May detect an unsuspected alveolar
infiltrate or a subtle interstitial pattern
• Guide for FOB techniques ► better yield
Brown MJ. Acute lung disease in the immunocpmpromised host:
CT and pathologic findings. Radiology 1994; Ramila E.
Bronchoscopy guided by HRCT for the diagnosis of pulmonary
infections in patients with hemathologic malignancies and normal
plain chest X-rays. Haematologica 2000
25. Reliability of transbronchial biopsy
• High utility only in case of:
–Sarcoidosis
–Lung cancer and some mestastases
–Opportunistic infections in
immunocompromised host
–Lung transplantation
Gal A. Adv Anat Pathol 2005
26. Lymphatic carcinomatosis may
mimic severe bronchial asthma
• Mendeloff A. Severe asthmatic dyspnea as
the sole presenting symptom of generalized
endolymphatic carcinomatosis: report of two
cases with autopsy findings and review of the
literature. N Eng J Med 1945
• Masson RG. Pulmonary microvascular
cytology in the diagnosis of lymphangitic
carcinomatosis. N Eng J Med 1989
27. Microscopic pulmonary tumor
embolism may cause respiratory failure
• Sometimes is the initial, subacute
presentation of occult malignancy
• Clue: precapillary pulmonary hypertension
without thromboembolic disease and
negative usual complementary tests
• Value of wedge aspiration cytology
Masson RG. Pulmonary microvascular cytology. A new diagnostic
application of the pulmonary artery catheter. Chest 1985; Stucky A. A
rare cause of fatal right heart failure. Eur J Intern Med 2006
28. Chemoterapy-induced lung
toxicity: therapeutic approach
• Early detected, non-severe cases: cessation
• Severe cases: steroids on a timely fashion
• Dosage & tapering: individualized basis
• Transplant? (Santamauro JT, Chest 1994)
• Desensitization possible, not recommended
• Premedication mandatory with some agents
• Future: Gene therapy? (West J, Chest 2001)